More detail on this person: COL (Ret) Billy G Murphy, 71, passed away Oct 21, 2014 in Kansas City, surrounded by family. Billy is survived by his wife of 51 years, Barbara Pearson Murphy, as well as daughters Dawn Bennett and Deborah Murphy, son-in-law John Bennett, grandsons Jacob Bennett, Clayton Bennett, and Murphy Hogan, along with his brother Bobby Murphy and sister Linda Murphy Arndt. Billy was born in Clintwood, Virginia and grew up in the hills of Appalachia until the age of 12, then in Marion Ohio, where he met his bride. He graduated from Harding High School, class of 1960, and at the age of 17 joined the military, where he served 31 years, retiring at the rank of Colonel. Billy received his bachelor's degree from Park University and his masters from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Through the military, he graduated from Infantry Officer Candidate School, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Rotary Wing Flight School, US Army Command and General Staff College, and the Air War College. Billy was stationed throughout the country and abroad, including Ft Riley Kansas, Ft Leavenworth Kansas, Ft Campbell Kentucky, Ft Benning GA, the Pentagon, 2 tours in Germany, and 2 tours in Viet Nam, among others. Billy was an extremely well respected leader and distinguished soldier, and received numerous awards and honors including Silver Star, Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device (with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Combat Infantry Badge, Senior Army Aviator Badge, Parachutist Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge, the Military Order of Saint Maurice (Primicerius Level), and the Military Order of Saint Michael (Bronze Level). Billy is in the OSC Hall of Fame at the National Infantry Museum at Ft Benning, GA. After retiring from the military, Billy served for 5 years as the Commandant at Valley Forge Military Academy in Valley Forge Pennsylvania. He then moved to Kansas City, where he opened his own consulting firm, Billy Murphy and Associates, employing several consultants to the US military. Billy served the last 5 years as the Honorary Colonel to the 28th Infantry Regiment. Billy was active in the Society of the Big Red One, AUSA, VFW, Military Officers Associations, the Black Lions Association, and served as a trustee at the Command and General Staff College. Billy enjoyed fishing, hunting, traveling with his wife, playing cards, watching Royals baseball & KU basketball, and being a dad and Papa. Billy was a member of the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood. Visitation will be on Tuesday October 28 at 10:45am at the Pioneer Chapel on Ft Leavenworth, with funeral services beginning at noon. Billy will be buried with full military honors supplied by the 28th Infantry Regiment from Ft Riley Kansas, cemetery ceremony to be held at Leavenworth National Cemetery at 1:30. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or Kansas City Hospice House and Palliative Care.
Burial information: Leavenworth National Cemetery
This information was last updated 02/21/2022
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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