Michael P. Murphy | Timeline

Source: US Navy

Michael Patrick "Murph" Murphy (May 7, 1976 – June 28, 2005) was a United States Navy SEAL officer who was awarded the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the War in Afghanistan. He was the first member of the United States Navy to receive the award since the Vietnam War. His other posthumous awards include the Silver Star Medal (which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor) and the Purple Heart. (Intro from Wikipedia)

The story of the men of "Operation Red Wings" deeply impacted me. This timeline is the first tribute I will pay to their memories. Any authorized details you might contribute to enrich Lieutenant Murphy's timeline, specially during years 2003 and 2004, will be greatly appreciated, and your name will be on my frontpage thankslist.

May 7, 1976 - Smithtown, New York - Michael Patrick Murphy is born

December 1(?), 1978 - Brookhaven, Long Island, New York - Murphy family moves to a new house on Old Medford Avenue

July(?) 1(?), 1979 - Brookhaven - Michael begins showing natural diving/swimming habilities in their neighbour's pool

January(?) 1(?), 1991 - Patchogue, Long Island, New York - Enrolls in Patchogue-Medford High School as an honor student

January(?) 1(?), 1993 - Patchogue - After his uncle dies of cancer, his three female cousins come to live with the Murphys

May(?) 1(?), 1994 - Brookhaven - Graduates from Patchogue-Medford High School and begins a first job with the Brookhaven parks department picking up litter and doing general maintenance

October(?) 1(?), 1994 - University Park, Pennsylvania - Enrolls in Pennsylvania State University in the fall

November 1(?), 1997 - University Park - Michael begins researching the Navy SEALs and visits ex-SEAL team Two commanding officer Ryan J. McCombie for a conversation. McCombie is impressed with Michael and gives him the contact of Captain Andrew Bisset, the Recruiting District Assistance Council (RDAC) district coordinator in Stamford, Connecticut, who coordinated a SEAL training and mentorship program at the US Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York

November 9, 1997 - University Park - Michael contacts Navy SEAL Captain Andrew Bisset, who invites him to attend the RDAC mentorship and training program from January 1998

January 16, 1998 - Kings Point, Long Island, New York - Michael Murphy reports to the US Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York

February 20, 1998 - Kings Point - Michael Murphy reports to the US Merchant Marine Academy for the February session

April(?) 1(?), 1998 - Bisset partners with a local outreach agency called Rebuilding Together, to assist low-income elderly veterans or widows of veterans who needed home maintenance and repairs. Bisset invites Michael to get involved in the project in his quality of Navy Officer candidate, so he could demonstrate his organizational and leadership qualities to RDAC aswell

April 15(?), 1998 - University Park, Pennsylvania - Michael is accepted into St.John's, Fordham and the University of Tennessee

April 24, 1998 - Kings Point, Long Island, New York - Michael Murphy reports to the US Merchant Marine Academy for the April session

May 1(?), 1998 - Ronkonkoma, Long Island, New York - Graduates from Penn State University with academic honors and with degrees in political science and psychology. After graduation he resumes his position as the supervising lifeguard at Lake Ronkonkoma and other beache and begins working at Hartcorn Plumbing and Heating in Ronkonkoma as a plumber's assistant

May 10(?), 1998 - Ronkonkoma - Michael is rejected into the New York University. He decides to join the SEALs as a Navy officer =(START)

May 16, 1998 - Kings Point - Michael Murphy reports to the US Merchant Marine Academy for the May session

June 19, 1998 - Kings Point - Michael Murphy reports to the US Merchant Marine Academy for the June session

July 26, 1998 - While in Ronkonkoma(?) - RDAC SEAL mentor Lieutenant Barry McCabe sends a letter to the US Navy Officer Recruiting Station in New York, praising Michael Murphy

November 1(?), 1998 - Michael undergoes a photorefractive keratectomy in his eyes

March(?) 1(?), 2000 - While in Ronkonkoma(?) - Michael receives official notification that he had been accepted into Officer Candidate School, after which he would enter BUD/S training

June 1(?), 2000 - Pier 86, New York - Participates in the annual program/demonstration on the flight deck of the USS Intrepid, after which he swears the oath of enlistment, thereby becoming a member of the Navy

September 1(?), 2000 - While in Ronkonkoma(?) - Murphy accepts an appointment to the US Navy's Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida

September 11, 2000 - Kings Point, Long Island - Michael attends his last RDAC session

September 15(?), 2000 - Pensacola, Florida - Michael Murphy arrives at the US Navy's Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida

December 13, 2000 - Pensacola - Commissioned as an ensign in the Navy

December 15(?), 2000 - Patchogue, Long Island, New York - Returns to Patchogue

January 7(?), 2001 - Patchogue - Departs to Coronado for his next assignment - BUD/S

January 10(?), 2001 - Coronado, California - Begins BUD/S training with class 236

September 11, 2001 - Coronado - Ensign Michael Murphy and his BUD/S classmates are conducting a morning PT session when one of the instructors calls them to the classroom. There, on the television, they see New York under terrorist attack

October 18, 2001 - Coronado - Signs his Fitness Report and Counseling Record for BUD/S

October 19, 2001 - Coronado - Graduation Ceremony for BUD/S Class 236. With his parents

BUD/S Class 236
Michael Murphy on the far left side
of the back row (source: US Navy)

in attendance, Michael Murphy receives his golden trident insignia

October 20(?), 2001 - Patchogue, Long Island - Returns home for a week of leave

October 28(?), 2001 - Fort Benning, Georgia - Ensign Murphy reports to the Army Airborne School in Fort Benning, Georgia, to begin jump school

November 16(?), 2001 - Coronado, California - After finishing Jump School and earning his golden wings, Michael Murphy reports back to Navy Special Warfare Center at Coronado to attend the Junior Officer Training Course (JOTC)

April 4, 2002 - Coronado - Signs his Fitness Report and Counseling Record for SEAL Qualification Training

April 6, 2002 - Kodiak Island, Alaska - 48 hours later he arrives in Kodiak Island for 28 days of Cold-Weather training

May 4(?), 2002 - Coronado, California - Returns to Coronado

May 8(?), 2002 - Panama City, Florida - Murphy begins an intensive 3-month program at the NSW Command Detachment SDV in Panama City, Florida, to learn how to operate the MK-16 mixed-gas dive rig and to pilot and navigate the MK-8 SEAL delivery submarine vehicle

July 1, 2002 - Panama City - Murphy graduates from SDV training and signs for his fitness report and Counseling record. He is promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade)

July 3, 2002 - MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Florida - Deploys to Central Command (CENTCOM) as an assistant operations officer, for 7 days

October 6, 2002 - Jordan - Murphy is deployed in Jordan with Foxtrot Platoon as the liaison officer for Exercise "Early Victor", a special operations command Central exercise involving 1,400 special operations forces training with Jordanian, British, Omani and Kuwaiti troops

October 29, 2002 - Jordan - End of the Exercise "Early Victor" 2002

January(?) 1(?), 2003 - Qatar - Deploys to Qatar as one of the 250 SEALs assigned to support Operation Iraqi Freedom

May(?) 1(?), 2003 - Djibouti - Deploys to Djibouti to assist in SDV mission planning (*) - We don't know the date, but Camp Lemonier was opened in Djibouti in May

December 25, 2003 - Patchogue, New York - Christmas with family

December 26, 2003 - Rockefeller Center, New York - Michael bends his knee and proposes marriage to his girlfriend Heather at Rockefeller Center

March 18, 2004 - Schofield Barracks, Honolulu, Hawaii - Alpha Platton conducts live-fire immediate-action drills. Lieutenant Murphy shoots another SEAL in an unfortunate accident. Corpsman Marcus Luttrell, the "lone survivor" himself, saves the life of the soldier.

December 25, 2004 - Patchogue, New York - Christmas with family and Fiancée Heather

January 1, 2005 - West Coast of the US - Michael Murphy is promoted to Lieutenant and goes on a training mission to the West Coast of the US before deploying to Afghanistan

March 16, 2005 - Patchogue - Murphy returns home for a well-deserved leave

March 31, 2005 - LaGuardia Airport, New York - Murphy departs to Hawaii

April 1, 2005 - Honolulu, Hawaii - Murphy joins his SDVT-1 teammates in Hawaii

April 4, 2005 - Manama, Bahrain - Murphy and his SDVT-1 teammates deploy to Naval Support Activity Bahrain, 96-hours after leaving New York

April 25(?), 2005 - Al-Udeid AB, SW of Doha, Qatar - Murphy's squad boards a C-130 for Afghanistan

April 26, 2005 - Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan - SEAL Team 10 arrives at Camp Ouellette,

From L to R: Matthew Axelson, Dan Healy,
James Suh, Marcus Luttrell, Shane Patton
Lt.Michael Murphy

Bagram Air Base, with reinforcements from SDVT-2 (from Virginia), one of them Danny Dietz

May 8, 2005 - Bagram Air Base - Murphy sends an e-mail to his mother, including with it a picture of his team holding a cardboard sign that read, “Happy Mother’s Day.”

May 20, 2005 - Northeast Afghanistan - On mission. Murphy is photographed studying a land-navigation chart

June 10, 2005 - Bagram Air Base - Commander Paro is unexpectedly and temporarily reassigned and command of the unit is assumed by Lieutenant Commander Erik Kristensen

June 17, 2005 - Bagram Air Base - E-mail to his family

June 18, 2005 - Bagram Air Base - Departs to another mission in the Northeast Afghan mountains

June 26, 2005 - Bagram Air Base - Air mission briefing at the 160th SOAR planning center

June 27, 2005 - Sawtalo Sar, Kunar Province, Afghanistan - A CH-47E Chinook helicopter, "Turbine 21" inserts four SEALs at Sawtalo Sar, altitude +9,000 feet: Lieutenant Michael Murphy, Petty Officer Second Class Matthew G. Axelson, Petty Officer Second Class Danny Dietz and Navy Hospital Corpsman Second Class Marcus Luttrell

June 28, 2005 - Sawtalo Sar - The patrol is stumbled upon by a herd of sheep and 3 shepherds. They cut them loose, but later they warn the taliban. Meanwhile the team retreats to a fallback position. After one hour, they are attacked by Shah and his men, armed with AK-47s, RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenades, RPK machine guns and an 82mm mortar. During the firefight, communications couldn't be established. After a while, the four SEALS are wounded. Dietz, gravely wounded but still fighting, is hit with a mortal bullet. Murphy decides to leave his cover position and goes to a clearing away from the mountains, exposing himself to a hail of gunfire in order to get a clear signal to contact the headquarters. He is shot multiple times, drops the phone but picks it up again and finishes the call, saying "Thank you" before dying. For this selfless action he was awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumous). He was 29 years old  =(END)

Bibliography

LUTTRELL, Marcus | ROBINSON, Patrick - Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10

WILLIAMS, Gary - SEAL of Honor: Operation Red Wings and the Life of LT. Michael P. Murphy (USN)

Thomas McGuire | Timeline

Thomas Buchanan McGuire Jr. (August 1, 1920 – January 7, 1945) was an Irish American United States Army major who was killed in action while serving as a member of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. He was one of the most decorated American fighter pilots and the second highest scoring American ace of the war. (Intro from Wikipedia)

August 1, 1920 - Ridgewood, New Jersey - Thomas Buchanan McGuire Jr is born

January(?) 1(?), 1929(?) - Moves with his mother to Sebring, Florida after his parents' divorce

January(?) 1(?), 1938 - Sebring - Graduates from Sebring High School

January(?) 1(?), 1939(?) - Atlanta(?) - Enrolls at the Georgia Institute of Technology

November 1(?), 1940 - Cander Field, Atlanta - First flying lessons on a Piper Cub

February 1(?), 1941 - Cander Field(?) - McGuire unsuccessfully tries to join the Eagle Squadron, an american corps of volunteers for the Royal Air Force

July 12, 1941 - Corsicana, Texas - Leaves the Georgia Institute of Technology and enters the US Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program =(START)

August 5, 1941 - Corsicana - First solo flight

September 30(?), 1941 - Randolph and Kelly Airfields, near San Antonio, Texas - Flying North American BT-9 and AT-6 at Randolph and Kelly airfields, near San Antonio. McGuire meets his future wife Marilynn Giesler

February 2, 1942 - Kelly Field, Texas - Commissioned a Second Lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings

February 15(?), 1942 - Selfridge Field, Michigan - Assigned to the 313th Pursuit Squadron at Selfridge Field, Michigan

May 7, 1942 - Selfridge Field, Michigan(?) - Transfered to the 56th Pursuit Squadron

June 14, 1942 - Nome, Alaska - The squadron is transfered to Western Alaska. McGuire flies patrols over the Aleutian Island in a P-39 Airacobra while assigned to the 54th Fighter Group

August 10, 1942 - Nome, Alaska - McGuire is punished after a looping above the airfield

November 29, 1942 - Harding Field, Louisiana - The Group is sent to Harding, Louisiana

December 4, 1942 - Baton Rouge, Louisiana(?) - Marries Marilynn "Pudgy" Giesler

February 1(?), 1943 - Muroc Field, Mojave Desert - Reports to Muroc Field, Mojave Desert, for transition training in the Lockheed P-38 Lightning

April 1(?), 1943 - Dobodura, New Guinea - Sent to the Southwest Pacific as a member of the 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, Fifth Air Force

June 6, 1943 - Dobodura, New Guinea - Promoted to First Lieutenant

July 20, 1943 - Amberley Field, near Brisbane, Australia - Transfered to the 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group

August 11, 1943 - Port Moresby, New Guinea - The Squadron moves to Port Moresby, New Guinea

August 17, 1943 - Port Moresby, New Guinea - First combat mission

August 18, 1943 - Wewak, New Guinea - Cover mission for bombers striking at Wewak, New Guinea. McGuire shoots down 2 "Oscars" and 1 "Tony". (3 total)

August 19, 1943 - Wewak, New Guinea - McGuire shoots down two more "Oscars" over Wewak. (5 total)
August 29, 1943 - Port Moresby, New Guinea - 2 japanese aircraft shot down. (7 total)
September 15(?), 1943 - Dubodura, New Guinea - The Squadron moves to Dubodura, New Guinea. McGuire is assigned "Pudgy II"
September 28, 1943 - Tsili-Tsili - 2 "Zeroes" shot down over Wewak. Maguire is shot up and looses one engine, making an emergency landing at Tsili-Tsili. (9 total)
October 15, 1943 - over Oro Bay - 1 japanese aircraft shot down over Oro Bay. (10 total)
October 17, 1943 - over Oro Bay - McGuire shoots down 3 "Zeroes" before being shot down himself. He bails out with difficulty and is rescued by a PT boat. Taken to the hospital with a bullet wound in his wrist and some broken ribs. (13 total)
October 20(?), 1943 - Port Moresby, New Guinea - Hospitalized in Port Moresby (for 3 weeks)
December(?) 10(?), 1943 - Brisbane, Australia - Awarded the Silver Star and a Purple Heart for his action of October 17th, 1943
December 12, 1943 - Brisbane, Australia - Leaves the hospital after 6 weeks (3 weeks of convalescent leave in Australia)
December 26, 1943 - Over Cape Gloucester - 3 "Vals" shot down over Cape Gloucester + 1 uncredited. (16 total)
December(?) 29(?), 1943 - Dubodura, New Guinea(?) - McGuire is promoted to Captain and becomes the operation officer of the 431st Fighter Squadron
February 1(?), 1944 - Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea - 431st Squadron is moved to Finchhafen, Papua New Guinea. McGuire assigned "Pudgy III"
March 1(?), 1944 - Nadzab Airfield, near Lae, Papua New Guinea - 431st Squadron is moved to Nadzab, Papua New Guinea
May 1(?), 1944 - Hollandia (Jayapura, N. New Guinea) - McGuire becomes the commanding officer of the 431st Fighter Squadron. The Squadron moves to Hollandia
May 4, 1944 - Hollandia - McGuire's book "Combat Tactics in the Southwest Pacific Area" for Fifth Air Force is published
May 16, 1944 - over Noemfoer - 1 "Oscar" shot down over Noemfoer. (17 total)
May 18, 1944 - over Manokwari | Hollandia - 1 "Tojo" shot down. Promoted to Major. (18 total)
June 1(?), 1944 - Hollandia (Jayapura, N. New Guinea) - Charles Lindbergh arrives at 475th Group
June 16, 1944 - Over Jefman - 1 "Oscar" and a "Sonia" shot down over Jefman. (20 total)
July 15(?), 1944 - Biak, Schouten Islands - The 475th Fighter Group moves to Biak, Schouten Islands
July 30(?), 1944 - Over Halmaheras - 1 "Oscar" shot down over Halmaheras. (21 total)
August 1(?), 1944 - Biak, Shouten Islands - Shares tent with Lindbergh. Both go fishing and exploring caves
August 15(?), 1944 - Biak - Assigned "Pudgy IV" when "Pudgy III" is wrecked
September 1(?), 1944 - Biak(?) - Assigned a new P-38L "Pudgy V"
October 15, 1944 - over Balikpapan, Borneo - Operating with the 9th Fighter Squadron for Bomber escort - 3 japanese aircraft shot down over Balikpapan. (24 total)
November 1, 1944 - over Tacloban, Leyte - 1 "Tojo" shot down. (25 total)
November 10, 1944 - over Tacloban, Leyte - 1 "Oscar" shot down. (26 total)
November 12, 1944 - 2 "Jacks" shot down. (28 total)
November 19, 1944 - Dulag Airfield, Leyte - The Squadron moves to Dulag Airfield, Leyte
December 1(?), 1944 - Dulag Airfield - McGuire becomes the Operation Officer of the 475th Fighter Group
December 7, 1944 - over Ormoc Bay - Flight with Richard Bong - 2 "Tojos" shot down. (30 total)
December 15(?), 1944 - Over Cebu - 1 japanese aircraft shot down. (31 total)
December 25, 1944 - Over Manila, Philippines - McGuire leads a squadron of 15 planes to protect B-24 Liberators bombing Mabaldent Airdrome. McGuire shoots down 3 "Zeroes". (34 total)
December 26, 1944 - Over Manila - McGuire shoots down 4 more "Zeroes". (38 total)
January 7, 1945 - Negros, Visayas, Philippines - Thomas McGuire is killed when his P-38 crashes in a low-altitude dogfight with japanese ace Akira Sugimoto, aged 24 =(END)

Richard Bong | Timeline

Richard Ira Bong (September 24, 1920 – August 6, 1945) was a United States Army Air Forces major and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II. He was one of the most decorated American fighter pilots and the country's top flying ace in the war, credited with shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft, all with the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter. He died in California while testing a Lockheed P-80 jet fighter shortly before the war ended. (Intro from Wikipedia)

September 24, 1920 - Superior, Wisconsin - Richard Ira Bong is born

January(?) 1(?), 1934 - Superior, Wisconsin - Enters Poplar High School

January(?) 1(?), 1938 - Superior, Wisconsin - Graduates from Central High School in Superior

October(?) 1(?), 1938 - Superior, Wisconsin - Begins studying at Superior State Teachers College and enrolls in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, also taking private flying lessons

May 29, 1941 - Wausau, Wisconsin - Bong enlists in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program =(START)

June 25, 1941 - near Tulare, California - Solo flight in a Stearman biplane trainer at Rankin Aeronautical Academy

January 19, 1942 - Northern California(?) - Commissioned a Second Lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings

January 25(?), 1942 - Luke Field, Arizona - First assignment - instructor (gunnery) pilot

May 6, 1942 - Hamilton Field, California - Operational assignment to the 49th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Group, where he learns to fly the Lockheed P-38 Lightning

June 12, 1942 - Hamilton Field - Bong is temporarily grounded for "buzzing" over a house in San Anselmo

July 1(?), 1942 - Hamilton Field - Still grounded when his Fighter Group is sent to England

September 10, 1942 - Brisbane, Australia - Reports to Major General Kenney. Assigned to the 9th Fighter Squadron (flying P-40 Warhawks)
November 14, 1942 - Laloki airfield, near Port Moresby, New Guinea - Reassigned temporarily to fly missions and gain combat experience with the 39th Fighter Squadron
December 27, 1942 - Schwimmer Field, near Port Moresby - Captain Thomas Lynch leads a flight of 12 P-38a off Schwimmer Airstrip to intercept a flight of 40 japanese fighters and bombers over Buna on the northern coast of New Guinea. Bong shoots down a Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" and a Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar". (2 total)
January 7, 1943 - Schwimmer Field - Shoots down two "Oscars". (4 total)
January 8, 1943 - Schwimmer Field - One japanese "oscar" shot down over Lae harbor. (5 total)
January 11, 1943 - Schwimmer Field - Rejoins 9th Fighter Squadron, equipped with P-38s
February 3, 1943 - Schwimmer Field - Returns from leave in Australia
March 3, 1943 - Schwimmer Field - Battle of the Bismarck Sea - Bong shoots down a "zero" while escorting B-17s and B-25s. (6 total)
March 11, 1943 - Schwimmer Field - Bong shoots down two "zeroes". (8 total)
March 29, 1943 - over the Bismarck Sea - Bong shoots down a japanese "Betty" bomber. (9 total)
April 6, 1943 - Schwimmer Field, near Port Moresby - Richard Bong is promoted to First Lieutenant
April 14, 1943 - Off Cape Frere - The Japanese move from their base at Rabaul, New Britain with 92 fighters, dive bombers and bombers to attack U.S. shipping at Milne Bay, New Guinea. Bong shoots down a G4M1 bomber. (10 total)
June 12, 1943 - 1 "Zero" shot down. (11 total)
July 21, 1943 - Schwimmer Field(?) - The 39th Fighter Squadron shoots down 11 japanese airplanes for a total of 104
July 26, 1943 - over Lae, E. Papua New Guinea - 1st Lieutenant Bong shoots down 4 japanese fighters over Lae. (15 Total)
July 28, 1943 - Off Cape Gloucester - 1 "Oscar" shot down while escorting B-25s over New Britain (his P-38 is damaged). (16 total)
August 24, 1943 - Australia - Promoted to Captain. Rest and Recuperation in Australia
September 6, 1943 - Mailinan Airstrip - Claims two bombers (not confirmed). Bong crash-lands at Mailinan airstrip
October 2, 1943 - over Cape Hoskins, New Britain - 1 "Dinah" shot down over Cape Hoskins, New britain. (17 total)
October 29, 1943 - over Rabaul - 2 "Zeroes" shot down over the japanese airfield at Rabaul. (19 total)
November 5, 1943 - over Rabaul - 2 "Zeroes" shot down over the japanese airfield at Rabaul. (21 total)
November 11, 1943 - United States - On leave until December (meets Marjorie "Marge" Vattendahl in Wisconsin)
December 15, 1943 - (While in the United States?) - The 39th Fighter Squadron is moved to Nadzab Airfield, New Guinea

Richard Bong and his P-38 "Marge"

January 1(?), 1944 - Nadzab Airfield, New Guinea - Bong returns to the Southwest Pacific. Names his P-38 "Marge" and adorns the nose with her photo
February 1(?), 1944 - Nadzab Airfield - Assigned to V Fighter Command HQ
February 15, 1944 - off Cape Hoskins, New Britain - 1 "Tony" shot down off Cape Hoskins, New Britain, on a flight back from an escort mission to Kavieng (22 total)
February 28, 1944 - Wewak, N. Papua New Guinea - Bong destroys a japanese transport full of officers on the runway at Wewak
March 3, 1944 - over Tadji, New Guinea - 2 "Sally" bombers shot down over Tadji, New Guinea. (24 total)
March 8, 1944 - over Aitape Harbor, N. Papua New Guinea - Without aerial opposition that day, Bong and his friend and mentor Tom Lynch fire at 6 barges, one of which is destroyed. When the two pilots come around for a second pass, Thomas J. Lynch is hit on one of his engines and crashes in the jungle, jumping too low for his parachute to fully open
April 3, 1944 - over Hollandia (Jayapura) - 1 "Zero" shot down over Hollandia. (25 total)
April 10, 1944 - Hollandia (Jayapura, N. New Guinea) - Letter to his mother and younger brother
April 12, 1944 - over Tanamerah Bay | Hollandia (Jayapura) - Bong shoots down three japanese aircraft for a total of 28. Richard Bong is promoted to Major
May 1(?), 1944 - United States - On leave in the US until July - pubilicy tours
June 7(?), 1944 - Washington D.C. - Major Richard Bong meets ETO ace Robert S. Johnson
September 10, 1944 - Hollandia (Jayapura, N. New Guinea) - Returns to New Guinea and reports to General Kenney at Hollandia. His assignment is "Advanced gunnery instructor". He is allowed to go on combat missions but with orders only to defend himself and not seek out the japanese
October 10, 1944 - over Balikpapan, Borneo - 2 aircraft shot down on a raid over Balikpapan (Borneo) oil refineries. General Kenney grounds Major Bong. (30 total)
October 27, 1944 - Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines - 9th Squadron fflies from Morotai Island (North Malukku) to Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines. 1 "Oscar" shot down off Biliran Island. (31 total)
October 28, 1944 - Off Leyte - 2 "Oscars" shot down off Leyte. (33 total)
November 10, 1944 - over Ormoc Bay - 1 "Oscar" shot down over Ormoc Bay. (34 total)
November 11, 1944 - Tacloban, Leyte - Bong shoots down two more japanese aircraft for a total of 36. He is recommended for the Medal of Honor
December 7, 1944 - over Ormoc - Bong shoots down a "Sally" and a "Tojo". (38 total)
December 12, 1944 - Tacloban, Leyte - Receives the Medal of Honor from General MacArthur
December 15, 1944 - Tacloban, Leyte - 1 "Oscar" shot down. (39 total)
December 16, 1944 - over Mindoro - 1 "Oscar" shot down. (40 total)
December 17, 1944 - Tacloban, Leyte - General Kenney finally grounds Major Bong and sends him to the United States. 40 victories, 7 probables and 11 damaged
December 24, 1944 - United States - Returns to the US on Christmas Eve to a hero's welcome
February 10, 1945 - Superior, Wisconsin - Richard Bong marries Marjorie Vattendahl
March(?) 1(?), 1945 - Wright-Patterson AB, Ohio - Assigned to the Flight Test Section at Wright-Patterson air base in Ohio, to work with the Lockheed P-80 jet fighter
June 1(?), 1945 - Burbank, California - Reports to Lockheed's plant in Burbank, California
August 6, 1945 - North Hollywood, California - Richard Ira Bong is killed in jet fighter prototype accident, aged 24 =(END)

Audie Murphy | Timeline

Audie Leon Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971) was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II, receiving every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism. Murphy received the Medal of Honor for valor demonstrated at the age of 19 for single-handedly holding off an entire company of German soldiers for an hour at the Colmar Pocket in France in January 1945, then leading a successful counterattack while wounded and out of ammunition. (Intro from Wikipedia)

June 20, 1925 - Kingston, Texas - Audie Murphy is born

June 29, 1942 - Greenville - Accepted by the US Army =(START)

June 30, 1942 - Camp Wolters, 50 miles W of Forth Worth, Texas - Arrives at Camp Wolters

October 13, 1942 - Camp Wolters - Finishes basic training - earns Marksman badge with rifle clasp and expert badge with bayonet clasp

October 18, 1942 - Fort George G. Meade, Maryland - Arrives for advanced training

January 23, 1943 - Camp Kilmer, New Jersey - Processed through Camp Kilmer

February 8, 1943 - New York City(?) - Boards the transportship "Hawaiian Shipper"

February 20, 1943 - Rabat, Morocco - Arrives in Rabat - Assigned to B company, 1st battalion, 15th inf rgt - 3rd inf div

February 28, 1943 - Port Lyautey, Kenitra, Morocco - Reports to his assigned unit - new training site of the 3rd division

March 7, 1943 - Port Lyautey, Kenitra, Morocco - 3rd Division is sent to Port Lyautey

March 15, 1943 - Arzew, Algeria - The Division arrives in Arzew for training

May 1, 1943 - Constantine, NE Algeria - 15th regiment moves out

May 7, 1943 - Tunisian border - Moves into Tunisia - Promoted to Private 1st Class

May 9, 1943 - W of Ferryville-Bizerte-Tunis highways - The 15th is instructed to move

May 15, 1943 - Jemmapes-Philippeville area (Skikda, NE Algeria) - The 3rd division moves out of Tunisia and marches to Skikda area for training

June 1, 1943 - El Alia, near Bizerte, Tunisia - Training complete - moves to El Alia for final preparations

July 7, 1943 - Karouba, near Bizerte - The 15th regiment moves to the embarkation point

July 9, 1943 - Crossing the Mediterranean in rough weather

July 10, 1943 - Licata, Sicily - The 3rd Division lands at Licata, Sicily

July 11, 1943 - Campobello di Licata - Captures the town of Campobello di Licata

July 12, 1943 - Ravenusa | Sommatino - Towns taken

July 15, 1943 - Canicatti - Murphy kills 2 italian officers - Promoted to Corporal

July 16, 1943 - Agrigento - Truscott surrounds Agrigento

July 19, 1943 - Casteltermini - Drive to Palermo at quick pace advancing north of Aragona towards Casteltermini

July 21, 1943 - Corleone - Corleone captured

July 23, 1943 - Palermo - Company B arrives in Palermo

August 1, 1943 - Castel di Tusa - The 15th regiment passes through Trabia and stopps at Castel di Tusa

August 2, 1943 - Caronia - Advancing to Messina

August 3, 1943 - West bank of Furiano River - West bank of the Furiano River reached

August 4, 1943 - San Fratello area (east bank of Furiano river) - Battle of San Fratello

August 7, 1943 - San Fratello - Final assault on San Fratello - house-to-house fighting

August 8, 1943 - San Fratello ridge - The 3rd Division attacks the San Fratello ridge with little opposition

August 9, 1943 - San Marco D'alunzio - Advancing to Messina

August 10, 1943 - Mirto | Naso - Advancing to Messina

August 13, 1943 - "beyond" Messina - Advancing to Messina

August 15, 1943 - Messina - Takes positions "beyond" Messina

August 16, 1943 - Messina - Messina is Taken by Patton

August(?) 20(?), 1943 - Marsala | Trapani - Resting and preparing for invasion of Italy

September 20, 1943 - Sele River, S of Battipaglia - Murphy lands in Italy, part of the Salerno landings

September 21, 1943 - Battipaglia Area - Salerno Landings (Murphy kills 5 germans - 7 total?)

September 22, 1943 - Acerno - The Division attacks Acerno

September 28, 1943 - Volturara - 1st Battalion in Reserve

September 29, 1943 - Avellino - The remainder of the Division enters Avellino

October 6, 1943 - Mignano Monte lungo (Volturno Line) - The Division reaches the banks of the Volturno River

October 13, 1943 - Volturno River - Crossing the Volturno river at midnight

October 14, 1943 - NE of Piana di Caiazzo

October 17, 1943 - Hill 446 above Roccaromana

October 19, 1943 - Roccaromana - Desperate german last stand blocks the advance until October 22th

October 26, 1943 - Montecello - Montecello occupied

November 1, 1943 - Presenzano - Murphy enters the city

November 8, 1943 - Mt.Rotundo - Mount Rotundo captured after days of fierce german resistance

November 16, 1943 - San Felice - 3rd Division pulled back to rest

December 13, 1943 - San Felice - Murphy is promoted to Sergeant

December 30, 1943 - Pozzuoli, NE Napoli - The Division moves to Pozzuoli to conduct an intense amphibious program
January 16, 1944 - Beaches South of Salerno - From 16 to 19th, the 3rd Division rehearses for the invasion of Anzio
January 21, 1944 - Napoli - Murphy is hospitalized with Malaria - Promoted to Staff Sergeant
January 22, 1944 - Napoli - Murphy misses the Anzio landings
January 30, 1944 - Cisterna - Anzio Landings (1st battle of Cisterna)
March 2, 1944 - Cisterna - Murphy destroys a tank and its crew - Bronze Star with "V" device
March 13, 1944 - Hospitalized with a second bout of Malaria
April 1, 1944 - Torre Astura - Training
May 8, 1944 - Awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Bronze Star
May 22, 1944 - Cisterna - 2nd battle of Cisterna
June 1, 1944 - Valmontone | Labico - Vamontone / Labico in allied hands
June 4, 1944 - Rome - Liberation of Rome. Murphy and his platoon stays through July
August 4, 1944 - SW of Rome - Transfer
August 8, 1944 - Out of Italy - Moves out
August 15, 1944 - Ramatuelle, France - Operation Dragoon (Murphy kills 8 germans - 13 total?) - Distinguished Service Cross
August 28, 1944 - Montélimar - offensive battle - Presidential Unit Citation
September 15, 1944 - Genevreuille, NE France - 1st Purple Heart after being wounded on the heel by a mortal shell blast
October 2, 1944 - L'Omet - Murphy kills 4 germans (17 total?) - Awarded the Silver Star
October 5, 1944 - L'Omet (hill) - offensive battle - directing his men under fire with a radio - Bronze oak leaf cluster for his silver star
October 14, 1944 - Bruyères | Brouvelieures - Battlefield commission to second Lieutenant - elevated to Platoon leader
October 26, 1944 - Bruyères | Brouvelieures - 1 sniper killed (18 total?) - Wounded by sniper
October 29, 1944 - Aix-en-Provence - Hospital and Surgery to remove gangrene in his hip wound
January 14, 1945 - Colmar Canal (bridgeheads W Rhine) - Rejoins his platoon - 16 days of battle
January 24, 1945 - Holtzwihr - german counterattack - Murphy is wounded on both legs
January 26, 1945 - Holtzwihr - Murphy holds a german company for an hour with a .50 machinegun - 50 of them are killed (68 total) - Medal of Honor action
February 4, 1945 - Biesheim - Murphy kills 6 germans (74 total?)
February 16, 1945 - Colmar - Promoted to First Lieutenant
February 18, 1945 - Colmar - Murphy is awarded the "Legion of Merit"
March 5, 1945 - Nancy - Distinguished Service Cross | Silver Star
March 11, 1945 - Nancy - Assigned as Liaison Officer (non-combat)
May 24, 1945 - Nancy(?) - An inquiry is sent to the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Versailles, France, inquiring as to the feasibility of Murphy's enrolling in the US Military Academy
June 2, 1945 - Salzburg - Murphy receives the Medal of Honor | Legion of Merit
June 8, 1945 - Salzburg(?) - Receives orders to report to Fort Sam Houston
June 13, 1945 - Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio - Arrival in Fort Sam Houston
July 2, 1945 - McKinney, Texas - Murphy is the star attraction at the 2 to 4 July rodeo

July 16, 1945 - Audie Murphy becomes a national celebrity after being Life Magazine cover story
July 17, 1945 - Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio - Back for duty
August 21, 1945 - Receives the Good Conduct Medal
September 21, 1945 - Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio - Murphy's Army discharge
June 17, 1947 - San Antonio, Texas(?) - Medical examination reveals symptoms of headaches, vomiting and war nightmares
February 8, 1949 - Murphy marries Wanda Hendrix
February 22, 1949 - Premiere of "Bad Boy", Murphy's first movie in a leading role

July 1(?), 1950 - Austin, Texas - Begins 2nd military career as a captain in the 36th Inf Div of Texas National Guard
March 16, 1951 - Premiere of "Red Badge of Courage"
April 11, 1951 - Murphy and Wanda Hendrix divorce, because of his post traumatic stress disorder
April 18, 1951 - 4 days later, Murphy married Pamela Archer
October 1, 1951 - transfered to inactive status at his request because of film commitments
August 17, 1955 - San Antonio, Texas - World Premiere of the movie "To Hell and back" at the Majestic Theatre
February 14, 1956 - Murphy is promoted to Major in US Army reserve
July 1, 1957 - Transfers back to inactive status
November 7, 1966 - Separation from the National Guard. Army reserve next day
May 22, 1969 - Murphy retires from the US Army reserve
May 18, 1970 - Burbank, California - Murphy is charged for assault to commit murder, by the Burbank Police
October 1(?), 1970 - Burbank, California - Murphy is acquitted of all charges at his trial
May 28, 1971 - Brush Mountain, Catawba, Virginia - Audie Murphy dies in an air accident, aged 45 =(END)