Biography

After enrolling in The University of Rhode Island in the fall of 1961 Terrence Murphy completed two years of ROTC training. He was a varsity athlete in both cross country and wrestling. Terrence was accepted into the Advanced ROTC Program in his junior year but made the difficult decision to focus on his Mechanical Engineering degree as the curriculum was becoming increasingly difficult. He was Vice President of Phi Mu Delta fraternity and as an alumni, served on the fraternity Board of Governors for several years in the mid-seventies.

Terrence was drafted into the United States Army in October of 1966. After completing Basic and Advanced Individual Training, He entered Engineer Officer Candidate School at Fort Belvoir where he was a distinguished military graduate and commissioned a regular army second lieutenant.

In 1968, 2LT Murphy was then sent to Vietnam. He was assigned as the 3rd platoon leader in Alpha Company, 31st Combat Engineer Battalion leading a 40-man platoon. The platoons tasked were varied to include accompanying infantry patrols to destroy enemy bunkers and fighting positions, building airfields, establishing landing zones clearing mines and rebuilding bridges to name a few. After six months as a platoon leader, 1st Lt. Murphy was designated as Assistant Battalion Operations Officer. The 600-man battalion had as many as 100 projects in progress in various stages of completion. The 31st Combat Engineer Battalion acted in support of the First Air Cavalry División operating in the northern half of the III Corp Tactical Zone which covered approximately 1/8th of the land mass of Vietnam. At the completion of his year of service Lt. Murphy was awarded The Bronze Star Medal for service and was then part of President Nixon’s first 10,000-man troop withdrawal in August of 1969. Upon return to CONUS Lt. Murphy left the army and returned to civilian life.

In support of The University of Rhode Island, Terrence contributed funds to help build the new College of Engineering building. He Co-Chaired his 50th Reunion Committee which raised over $100,000 for The University and he also contributed to the purchase of exercise equipment for the ROTC program in honor of his close friend, Charles Yaghoobian who lost his life in Vietnam. Terrence has participated in the U.R.I. Football Golf Tournament for the past 20 years as well as alumni events in the Boston area and more recently in events sponsored by the U.R.I Southwest Florida chapter.

Terrence has served on the finance council of Saint Julia church for 32 years and has generously supported the church throughout that time. He and his wife Gail have been long-standing generous supporters of his high school, Saint Raphael Academy in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

For several years, Terrence was a member of Business Executives for National Security, a nonprofit organization of elite business leaders who focused on providing private-sector expertise to help the Department of Defense and other national security agencies execute their mission to keep America secure.

Terrence is also a regular participant in golf tournaments to support The Home Base charity and events to support The Semper Fidelis Society which aids children of United States Marines.

Terrence learned discipline at Saint Raphael Academy where he was recently inducted into their Hall of Fame. His interest in the military was awakened in his initial 2 years of the ROTC program at U.R.I. After graduation in 1966, Terrence started work for Westinghouse, the company attempted to get him occupational deferment as an engineer because his position was vital for our national defense. Terrence decided to fulfil his military obligation and requested a military leave of absence from Westinghouse. His expectation was to work on a fishing boat for two to three months out of Point Judith R.I., but he underestimated the efficiency of the Selected Service and received his draft notice 11 days after leaving Westinghouse. Army 1, Murph 0. His next clever move in the spring of 1968 was to submit a 1049 volunteering for Vietnam, Airborne and Jungle School. After a month goes by the Army replies “Sorry you can only volunteer for one thing at a time”. Army 2, Murph 0. On his next 1049 he volunteers for Airborne which would get him an extra $110 a month in jump pay. Another month goes by and the Army replies “Sorry no slots for airborne engineers”. Army 3, Murph still 0. By then, the orders for Vietnam arrived.

Terrence’s military training helped develop his leadership and love of country which served him well in Vietnam, business and public service. His devotion to duty and service to his community, church, The University of Rhode Island and to our country are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his community and The University of Rhode Island and most worthy of being recognized as a Hall of Fame member.