Vietnam hero honored 42 years after his death
VFW pays tribute to soldier who played on post grounds as kid
BY MARY ANNE ROSS
Correspondent

It's been more than four decades, but women still smile when they remember how handsome he was.

Robert L. Murphy, who grew up in Old Bridge and went off to fight in Vietnam, never to return, was honored by his family, friends and local dignitaries and veterans last week during a Fourth of July ceremony at VFW Post 9468, which is on land where Murphy played as a child.

Murphy joined the U.S. Army when he was 19 years old and was a specialist in the Airborne division, according to his nephew, Joseph Murphy.

"He was a hero," said his sister-in-law, Lorraine Murphy. "He was caught in a crossfire and died protecting his commanding officer. He earned a Purple Heart."

In honor of his heroism, the VFW post, located off Englishtown Road, dedicated the road leading up to the post as "Robert Murphy Way."

Bobby, as he was known, came from a close-knit clan. There were only a few houses on Green Street in Old Bridge when he was growing up and most of them belonged to his relatives. His four cousins in the Butcher family, Velma, Patty, Lucille and Ruth Ann, lived next door.

PHOTOSBYSCOTT FRIEDMAN Old Bridge Township Council President Patrick Gillespie and VFW Post 9468 Commander Al Freed look at the new sign at the entrance to the post during the July Fourth event.

Three of the sisters were able to make last week's dedication. They fondly recalled the young man who had eyes like Elvis, and the days when they all attended a small two-room school called Brunswick Gardens No. 1 and went to a little store nicknamed Fry's (Fryzowitz') for soda and candy. All three sisters agreed he could have had any girl he wanted, and laughed about how careful he was with his clothes and hair.

"He used to wear a cashmere jacket and wing-tip shoes," said Ruth Ann Fuchsloch, now of Monroe.

While the women might remember his good looks, his nephews remember something else.

"He was so cool. It was like having the Fonz for an uncle," Jim Murphy said.

"He was the bachelor with the MG," Joseph Murphy said.

Bobby would pick blackberries for his mother and play with his friends and cousins in the fields behind the VFW.

"One day I fell into the creek back there," said Patty Quinlan, of Old Bridge. "I was around 5 years old. I just remember tumbling over and over. Bobby pulled me out. He saved my life."

She admits to what would seem to be a well-deserved case of hero worship for Bobby, who was seven years her senior.

"He was my favorite cousin. I just wanted to hang out with him," she said. "I would watch him lift weights, and when he'd ask me to get him something to drink I would run to Fry's and bring him back a grape soda."

Velma Witkowski, also now of Monroe, described Murphy "like a brother" to all his cousins, and recalled attending his graduation at Fort Dix and how proud the family was of him.

Tears filled her eyes as she recalled the family receiving news of his death in 1965.

"He died 30 days before he was due to come home. We were all waiting for him. Then we got the news," she said.

Patty Quinlan recalled being in seventh grade and was walking home from school when she saw the Army vehicle in front of her aunt's house, and two soldiers walking from the front step. She knew immediately what had happened.

"His mother, Adelaide, never really accepted it," said Witkowski. "She kept saying it was a mistake, that he would be coming home, that he was really a POW or MIA."

Adelaide died a few years later, as did Bobby's father, Jim, she said.

"I think they were just devastated," Witkowski said.

VFW Post Commander Al Freed learned about Bobby from his friend, Jim Leslie, who joined the Marines at the same time Bobby joined the Army.

"I was touched by the story and the fact that this young man had lived so close by and had played in these fields," Freed said. "That's when I decided we should name the road after him. Everyone agreed."

Freed got in touch with the Murphy family, though sadly Jim Murphy, Bobby's only brother, died last year.

"We have Bobby's medals hanging on the wall in our home," said Lorraine Murphy. "We decided to donate them to the VFW post."

About 100 people came out for the dedication. It being the Fourth of July, the VFW celebrated in style, with live music and a barbecue. It also invited veterans from the Menlo Park Veterans Home to come out and enjoy the day.

Old Bridge Township Council President Patrick Gillespie reminded everyone that Old Bridge has a long-standing tradition of paying tribute to those who serve in the Armed Forces.

"We have a wall of heroes at the municipal center that features our young people who are in the service now," he said.

State Assemblyman Samuel Thompson said he believes it is important to honor veterans. Thompson served during the Korean War and comes from a family with a long history of military service. He has been a big advocate of the AMVET program called Operation DVD, which sends DVDs to soldiers overseas.

"Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan can't play ball because of snipers, and it's dangerous for them to go into the towns," he said. The goal is to collect a million movies for shipment. People can call Thompson's office at (732) 583-5558 for more information.

Councilwoman Lucille Panos also attended the ceremony.

"Al Freed did such a good job of putting it together," Panos said.

The Murphy family agreed.

"He was such a wonderful guy and it's been so long since he died. It's wonderful to know he's not forgotten," Witkowski said.

"We really appreciate this. He was such a great kid and we lost him way too young," Lorraine Murphy said.

Freed said Bobby's name "will always be shining above us."

"We will never forget him or the others who have sacrificed so much for our country," he said.