The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-01
With Crucifix Clutched in His Right Hand Capt. Jerry Murphy Falls
 Before Verdun.
CAPT. J. K. MURPHY
 WRITES TO FATHER
Both Bridgeport Boys Won Promotion on the Field of Battle, and Gained
 Honor.

Leading his men in gallant charge in the Verdun region, Captain Jeremiah Emmett Murphy, son of Colonel T. J. Murphy of this city, made his supreme sacrifice for his country's cause when he was struck by high explosive shell and instant Iy killed, according to a letter receiv- ed here from Captain James E. Mur- phy, oldest son of Col. Murphy, which wGs written on the battlefeIds of France. In the letter, the son in forms the father of the manner in which he heard of the death of his soldier brother. Both of the Mur- phy boys won their spurs upon the field of battle and each was devout Catholic. When the remains of Cap tain Murphy were removed to the burial place the chaplain discovered crucifiX clutched in the right hand
 The letter which gives additional details follows:
 France, Nov. 16, 1918 My dear father:-
 This is one letter to you that I ac- tually don't enjoy writing for the sub ject that it will cover is not pleasant However, it will prove to you that the gold star which has probably by this time replaced the blue one on your service flag can be proudly pointed to as your son and my broth CT Jerm, who was killed in action while carrying out his orders.
 l will tell you the whole story right from the start. One of the other captains in the supply train is Captain Haggerty and he has a younger brother who is a lieutenant in the 59th infantry.
 Yesterday his brother arrived here on leave and he is the one who told Rne of Jerm's end,
 By some coincidence Jerm and young Haggerty were appointed aides to General Booth from the 5Sth and l 59th regiments respectively. That was after the battle of Chateau Thierry where Jerm was reported as wounded on July 18th. That report was erroneous as Haggerty was with Jerm when they both read the casual ty list as printed in the states.
 
 fighting on the Argonne front Jerm and Haggerty were together and act ed as liaison officers for the general. | According to Haggerty they both got | through some very tight fixes un- | harmed and considered themselves l quite lucky as there were many cas- ualties in our forces there. Jerm | received his promotion to captain about the first of October when the 1 division went into action at Verdun and it was about the twelfth that i Jerm, then haison officer for his regi- ment, was carrying on a very heavy artillery bombardment. He was evI, | dently carrying out some perilous task when struck by a high explosive shell and instantly killed. Ina Jerm evidently understood the dan ger of his mission is taken for grant | ed because when his body was found he had a crucifx cIutched in hi! hand and the nature of the hit show! that death was instantaneous and ht 1 could not have gotten the crucif1 after being struck.
 Jerm died a soldier and a Catholic and although his loss will be keenl! felt by us all, you will have to res contented that he soldiered as a Mur phy should and met his end in tn, performance of his duty and for thu honor and glory of his country ant his God.
 My regret is that the armistice ha ended hostilities and that we canno go into Germany and avenge tn, | deaths of our countrymen.
 The manner in which I heard 0 Jerm's demise was very strange in deed but I presume you have hear of it before this. The grim reaIit, of war is vividly brought to you whel someone from home is taken away but it is something that can't be help ed and we must shoulder our burde and smile grimly.
 I'm in the best of health and goin good but I don't know what Is on tn boards for us. Will close with prayer for Jerm. Your son,
 JIM.