From France: the Legion of Honor (Chevalier) and two Croix de guerre, one with Silver Star and one with Palm. From Belgium: the Croix de guerre with 1940 Palm.
He also shared the Presidential Unit Citation with his unit.
The total of thirty-three medals, as cited in some accounts, reflects the cumulative count of awards and devices. The specific count varies depending on how one enumerates devices and clusters, and accounts differ slightly on the precise figure.
## The Age Question
The discrepancy between Murphy’s documented birth year (1925) and his enlistment papers (1924) is a small but specific detail that the prompt guardrails for this article flag for verification rather than assertion.
By his actual birth date of June 20, 1925, Murphy was 17 years old when he enlisted on June 30, 1942. He was 18 when he landed in Africa in February 1943. He was 19 when he fought at Anzio. He was 19, turning 20 in June 1945, when he climbed onto the burning M10 at Holtzwihr in January of that year.
By the enlistment papers’ date of 1924, he would have been 18 at enlistment, 20 at Holtzwihr.
The 1925 birth year is supported by his birth certificate and by later historical research. The 1924 enlistment papers date was the product of his sister’s affidavit. His Arlington Cemetery headstone shows 1924, the enlistment papers date, which means the official government marker carries the falsified age.
None of this changes what he did. It changes only the specific number attached to his age at the time he did it.