Harry Francis Murphy was born in Hudson County on November 2, 1917. In October 1936, he matriculated as a degree student at Hudson College, a division of Saint Peter’s College, but he withdrew in 1937 and joined the United States Army Air Corps. He became a first lieutenant assigned to the 522nd Fighter Squadron, 27th Fighter Group in France.

On August 30, 1944, Lt. Murphy was killed in a motorcycle accident on his way back to his airbase after evening dinner.

“We weren’t the only ones that went to town. One of our pilots, Harry Murphy, went to town with the Pratt and Whitney representative. They apparently had a good bit to drink, and on the way back to the base they were going too fast and he missed a turn. They all went flying through the air and the big Harley-Davidson motorcycle landed on top of Harry and killed him. He had about 66 missions at the time. His friend, Tom Reynolds, also from “LonGisland” (they pronounce it as if the "g" went with island) had gone home (USA) a short time before. When he arrived, he went over to Harry’s home and said that he had just left Harry in Corsica and everything was going okay and he should be home soon. Then they told them about the telegram.”

Lt. Murphy is buried at the Rhone American Cemetery in Draguignan (Var), France, plot C, row 2, grave 11. He received the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. Lt. Murphy is listed on the Hudson County WWII War Memorial.