Pvt. Leo Murphy Died Of Injuries in China
Pvt. Leo J. Murphy, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Murphy of Rose Hill, died of injuries received while serving with the army somewhere in China. The Murphy family was notified by the War Department of the death of their son.
No details were included in the message, except the statement that he was injured while at work in the performance of his duty.
After entering service on November 3, 1943, he was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., for basic training, and afterward studied welding at Atlanta, Georgia, Fort Crook, Nebraska and Camp Claiborne, Louisiana.
He had been overseas since August and served with an engineering company.
Source: The Albia Union-Republican, (Albia, IA) Thursday, January 4, 1945 (photo included)
Pvt. Leo J. Murphy, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Murphy of Rose Hill and a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Byerly of Lovilia, died in China, while on duty. His death followed injuries received while serving with the engineers. Pvt. Murphy entered service Nov. 3, 1943, and was given training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., Atlanta, Ga., Fort Crook, Nebr., and Camp Claiborne, La. He had been overseas since August.
Source: The Lovilia Press, January 11, 1945
Grandson of Mrs. Byerley Returned to U.S.
Mr. and Mrs. James Murphy of Rose Hill have been notified by the War Department that the body of their son, Pfc. Leo J. Murphy, has arrived in the United States from Hawaii.
Pfc. Murphy met death while serving with troops constructing the Burma road in the China-Burma theatre of operations.
Young Murphy was a grandson of Mrs. W. E. Byerley and a nephew of Mrs. Jess Self of Lovilia.
His body will be returned to Albia for burial. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, were reared in Monroe county and formerly lived at Albia.
Source: The Lovilia Press, February 19, 1948
Services Held Wednesday For Pvt. Leo Murphy
Funeral services for Pvt. Leo J. Murphy of Rose Hill, who was killed in action in China, were held at 8:30 o’clock, Wednesday morning at St. Mary’s church in Albia, conducted by the Rev. Lambert Heinen.
Military services were held at the grave in St. Mary’s cemetery, the color guard of the Lovilia American Legion post joining other service groups in the ceremonies.
Murphy’s body arrived in Albia Monday evening. He was a grandson of Mrs. William Byerely and a nephew of Mrs. Jess Self of Lovilia. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. James Murphy, of Rose Hill, former Monroe county residents.
Source: The Lovilia Press, March 11, 1948
Leo J. Murphy was born Aug. 28, 1925 to James Edward and Gladys Margaret Murphy. He died Dec. 26, 1944 and is buried in Saint Marys Cemetery, Albia, IA.
Pvt. Murphy served in World War II with the U.S. Army Engineers and died in Kumming, China as the result of injuries received in a tramway accident.
Source: ancestry.com
