Leroy V. Murphy
USMC 1 DEF BN POW
Wake Island Hero
Leroy was born in June of 1920, he joined the Marines in 1939 earning the rank of Sergeant. He married Virginia Turvy in 1940 before being sent to the 1st Defense Battalion at Wake Island after less then one year of married life. The day after Pearl Harbor (Dec. 8, 1941) the Japanese started bombing Wake, then came their troops. The Marines held out for 16 days. Historians report the Japanese admit losing 8,000 to 10,000 men aboard ships that were sunk: 7,000 men on the island, 29 planes, 2 submarines, 1 transport ship, 2 destroyers ,and 1 heavy cruiser. The Marines lost 170 men and 12 planes. Leroy was captured and sent to a camp at Shanghai, China for 18 months, then to a camp at Kawasaki, Japan, then to forced labor in the ship yards near Tokyo, Japan. He was liberated from Tokyo just after the signing of the surrender.
On Sept. 15, 1945 he was reunited with Virginia and in March of 1946 Leroy was discharged. Leroy enjoyed a long life of many children and periodic reunions of Wake Island Defenders.
Honors Earned: USMC Expeditionary Medal with a ”W” for Wake Island, American Defense Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal 1 battle star, POW medal, WWII Victory Medal.
Leroy Vernon Murphy passed from this life June 14, 1992.
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