Son of James and Catherine Murphy of Ashburton, Canterbury.

Husband of Veronica Murphy of Napier, Hawkes Bay.

Prime Minister Helen Clark and Defence Minister Mark Burton presented the New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM) to next of kin of New Zealanders who were killed or died in military operations since 1945 at a ceremony at Parliament 3 September 2003.

The New Zealand Operational Service Medal was received on his behalf by his nephew Mr Brian Murphy of Hastings.

The New Zealand occupation of Japan began in February 1946, and continued until November 1948, involving approximately 12,000 men and women. New Zealand personnel were part of a larger British Commonwealth Occupation Force with a total of 40,000 personnel from the United Kingdom, Australia and India. New Zealand's contribution to the British Commonwealth Occupational Force (BCOF) was officially known as the 2 NZEF Japan, or the J Force during the stages of organisation. While the American forces occupied the majority of Japan, the J Force were mostly based in Yamaguchi Prefecture in the far south western tip of the island of Honshu. All the allied forces in Japan came under the control of General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander Allied Powers. The first draft was formed in Italy and sent to Japan from Naples after training in Florence. This draft was formed from the 2 NZEF troops remaining in the Mediterranean theatre after the war in Europe had ended. Those who were not married and those who were the last to arrive as reinforcements from New Zealand made up the majority of this draft. The draft from Italy was later relieved by a draft of volunteers raised in New Zealand in early to mid-1946, who were in turn also relieved by a second draft of volunteers from New Zealand in mid-1947.Some of the Relief draft arrived at Kure naval base in Japan on 1 August 1947, on board the Dunera. On 21 April 1948, Cabinet approved the decision to withdraw from Japan and from mid-1948 the New Zealand camps were closed or taken over by other allied occupation forces. AWMM