Major John M. Murphy was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School, 7 May 1945  His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, 6th Infantry Replacement Training Center, Camp Croft, South Carolina. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Platoon Leader, Company G, later Company F, 9th Infantry, Far East Command; Assistant S-2, Regimental S-2, Headquarters Company, 9th Infantry, Far East; Instructor of Tactics, G-3, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Dix, New Jersey; Aide-de-Camp to Post Commander, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Dix, New Jersey; Student Officer The Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia; Training Officer, G-3, 9th Infantry Division, later 69th Infantry Division, Fort Dix, New Jersey; Administrative Officer to Chief of Staff, 69th Infantry Division, Fort Dix, New Jersey. | Major Murphy's awards and decorations include: World War II Victory Medal; American Campaign Medal; Distinguished Unit Emblem; Untied Nations Service Medal; Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation; National Defense Service Medal.