Captain Kevin Murphy
Kevin Patrick Murphy.30710. Captain. Royal New Zealand Artillery. 161 Battery. New Zealand Gazette Number 5 dated 1 February 1968. The late Captain Murphy entered Royal Military College; Duntroon in January 1959 and graduated in December 1962 as a Lieutenant allotted to the Royal New Zealand Artillery. He served with the National Service Training Unit, Waiouru until November 1963 when he was posted to 16 Field Regiment as a Section Commander. In June 1965 Captain Murphy was posted to 161 Battery which departed for service in Vietnam in July 1965. He held successively the appointments of Section Commander and Gun Position Officer. At present he is serving as a Forward Observation Officer in this Battery.On 25 July 1966, Captain Murphy was acting as the Forward Observation Officer with B Company, 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment on a Battalion search and destroy operation in the Phuoc Tuy Province of South Vietnam near Long Tan. At approximately 1400 hrs B Coy was engaged with small arms fire, automatic and mortar by an estimated Viet Cong Company attacking the B Company area through dense bamboo and jungle cover. Early in the attack a mortar round landed near Captain Murphy, wounding him in the head and two of his FO party. Although wounded and still under fire Captain Murphy remained at his position and calmly continued to request and direct artillery fire onto the attacking Viet Cong. This artillery fire inflicted heavy casualties on the Viet Cong and was largely instrumental in breaking up their attack, causing them to break contact and withdraw. Captain Murphy remained with B Company and continued on the operation as planned for a further four days. Throughout the operation Captain Murphy displayed qualities of courage and calmness under fire of the highest order. His gallantry and devotion to duty served as an outstanding example to all troops in the area. His conduct reflected great credit on himself, his unit and the New Zealand Army. Note: Captain Murphy’s award is being received today by his widow – Mrs Judith Murphy