By Annette Hopgood, Contributing Writer
-
Dennis E. Murphy and Glenda Murphy Sanders show the World War II medals belonging to their father, Riley Murphy. The medals were discovered at a thrift sale and, with the support of the Union County Historical Society and the Old Unicoi Trail Chapter with Daughters of the American Revolution, they were returned to the family.
Blairsville, Ga. – It was during a routine visit to the Union County Historical Society when society staff shared a recent donation with a Daughter, Old Unicoi Trail Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. Then it was off to the races.
The donation made by a visitor just a few days early had been purchased at a thrift sale. The donor felt the Historical Society a worthy place to deposit their purchase: seven World War II military medals, including a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars, belonging to Riley Glinford Murphy, and three photos, one of his company where he noted on the reverse “WWII battle of Kwajalein Atoll” in the Marshall Islands, “South Pacific.” Other notes on the photo included “after the battle was won” and “bayonet in hand” which the photo reflected. A clear “X” marked Private Murphy in the photo and a “G” was sketched on his helmet.
This was the first taken by the DAR’s Historian Annette Bomar Hopgood to reunite the medals with the family of Riley G. Murphy. With the support of the Historical Society staff, a visit to several genealogical sites quickly established a path that reunited Riley’s medals with his son, Dennis E. Murphy, and daughter, Glenda Murphy Sanders, who reside in New Albany and Blue Springs, Miss., respectively.
On Nov. 7, DAR received a call from son Dennis, acknowledging with a photo his and Glenda’s receipt of and appreciation for the medals just a few days shy of celebrating Veterans Day. Riley’s children had not been aware of their father’s service.
Private Riley Glinford Murphy, living in Dumas, Miss., was 18 and weighed 125 pounds when he enlisted in the Army in January 1943. He was discharged on Nov. 9, 1945. A request was made by DAR on behalf of the family to retrieve Riley’s service records; the family desires to know more about their father’s distinguished service. Because his service records are more than 62 years old, they are available to the public from the National Archives. As of this past June, the archives reported almost 300,000 unanswered requests for military records.
The Union County Historical Society preserves and promotes the history and culture of Union County. This story of reuniting Riley Glinford Murphy’s World War II medals with family is now a part of that history.
The Old Unicoi Trail Chapter and the Union County Historical Society appreciate this opportunity to observe 2023 Veterans Day in such a special way.
The DAR represents over one million Daughters. A woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible to join. Email oldunicoitrail@gmail.com to attend a meeting or learn about joining.
To further perpetuate the memory of patriot ancestors, the chapter will hold an “Introduction to Genealogy Workshop” from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 20, 2024, at the Union County Library Community Room.
To register for the workshop email oldunicoitrail@gmail.com.
The writer is historian of the Old Unicoi Trail Chapter with the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.