John D. Murphy

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John D. Murphy, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Epieds, France, July 22, 1918. Lieutenant Colonel (then major) Murphy led a small daylight patrol to reconnoiter the enemy’s outpost line. Encountering machine-gun fire, he sheltered his patrol and alone went forward in the face of continuous fire, to reconnoiter the town of Epieds. Assuring himself of the strength of the enemy, he returned over the same route, reporting to his brigade headquarters with information of the greatest value.