Looking for info on my father aboardthe uss murphy

My father would always tell us of some of the places he was at during his time in the service. Unfortunately my father passed away from cancer in the early 80’s at the age of 57. He was Romanus Joseph Deck gunners mate aboard the Murphy. He also mentioned the transporting of the King of Saudi Arabia to the Yalta Meeting and showed us pictures on the ship and also on the beaches with other crew member. Does anyone remember him?

11 comments on Looking for info on my father aboardthe uss murphy

  1. Yes, I remember your father Romanus. Fred Sheller. Originally I was a Striker for Fire Controlman, but after the collision OPct 21, 1943, I was needed as a Yeom,an & ended up Y2C on the Murphy.

    1. I want to thank you for the feed back on my father, sorry it took awhile. Were you together for all the engagements that I have read about, D-Day, Southern France , and the carry of the King of Saudi also the walking of the streets of Nagasaki. My bother has the flag off the ship and is hanging in a glass case.

      1. I reported aboard the USS Murphy DD603 Aug 28, 1943 as a Seaman 2C, but soon became a Fire Control striker (OJT) & I knew all the Fire Control personnel, including R. Deck. After all these years, I don’t remember much about him, but do remember him. And, yes, I was on the Murphy during all those times you mentioned except that just before the D-Day Normandy Invasion I was transferred to Vickerage Barracks at Plymouth, England, & took a seabag filled with total crew service records. If the Murphy was sunk or badly battle-damaged, I could make reports of those personnel wounded or lost. I returned to the ship in time for the So. France Invasion at Toulon. I remained on the Murphy into Nagasaki & final decommission at Charleston, SC. in 1946. The Murphy Site has the four videos of some of our history & I furnished a revised video of Dan Crowell’s video which you can watch & carefully download them to your computer.

        1. Again I want to thank you for the info. I do have some pictures of the places my father saw. My bother put them on 3 dvds. I will see if I can down load them to the site.

          1. Okay…The 4 videos on our USS Murphy Site gives a lot of our history & travels! Some Murphy videos are on “You Tube” to be viewed free. If you stick with it & try your best, you can download some of them as well! Good luck! I have lots of photos & videos about our home, the DD603) & will always cherish my time among some wonderful shipmates! Because I was aboard at the time of the collision October 21, 1943, I have a special place in my 96-yr old heart for those shipmates left behind! Fred Sheller, Y2C

          2. Again I have to thank you for everything that you have brought to light. I really do appreciate all of the info you have given to me. I will have to say that you are 96 years young!

  2. My uncle Jimmy Parlaman went down on the ship. My mother always talked about him. Now my sister and I are looking for the memorial plaque for the USS Murphy.

      1. Actually…just “click” on this URL & the video begins on your computer. on the window which shows the video, double-click on the video to get full screen or put your pointer on the video & at the bottom of it, click far right on full screen. Good viewing! It is Dan’s revised Murphy video & the last part concerns the Memorial. Fred Sheller

  3. Fred Sheller,

    I went to Fold 3 this weekend and was able to look up the Muster Rolls for the Murphy. I thought you would like to know. Thank you for your service.

  4. I remember that my father got the flag off the USS Murphy, my mom gave it to my brother. He since has had it framed in a glass case. It is a flag with 48 stars on it, made of wool.

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