Murphy, William J.

Person

Staff Only

Dates

Existence: March 1, 1925

Biography

William Murphy, from South Omaha, Nebraska, served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CV-11) as a musician third class and was a member of the Navy band (both the “square” and “swing” bands) during World War II, from 1943 to 1945. During his service as a band member, he was responsible for providing entertainment for the other crewmembers but still had normal cleaning duties aboard the ship. Murphy experienced the Intrepid running aground near the Panama Canal, a torpedo strike, and multiple kamikaze attacks. He recalled the last action taking place in Okinawa in the spring of 1945, but this was more indirect via airstrikes. In the spring of 1946, he was discharged and spent some time in various bands, received a degree in Speech from Cal Berkley and eventually dedicated more than 40 years to broadcasting. He currently plays in a Jazz Band connected through a Community College in Colorado.

Chronology:

March 4, 1943
: Start Date of Military Service
July 1943
: Start Date of Service Aboard Intrepid
May 1945
: End Date of Service Aboard Intrepid
February 1946
: End Date of Military Service

Race/Ethnicity

Caucasian

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

William J. Murphy Oral History

Item

Identifier: OHP 016

Scope and Contents William Murphy served aboard Intrepid as a musician third class and was a member of the Navy band (both the “square” and “swing” bands) during World War II, from 1943 to 1945. Murphy began his interview by stating that he remembered living in South Omaha, Nebraska, and then relocating to a small town near Chicago at the age of 4 or 5. Murphy explained that his mother and sister were musicians, and that he had experimented with music, playing all through high school, a theme that would...

Dates: August 18, 2013

Found in: Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Online Archives / William J. Murphy Oral History