MR. A. R„ MURPHY ARRIVES ON ADAK
FOR TREK TO SHAGAK BAY MEMORIAL
MARKER IN REMEMBRANCE OF SON, SGT
MIKE MURPHY ___
Marine Barracks was proud to
act as host to Mr. A; H. Murphy of
San Francisco over the Memorial
Bay weekend and the first part of
this week. Mr. Murphy's son, Mike
Murphy, a Sergeant in the Marine
Corps, gave his life in a drowning
accident at Shagak Bay on 7 Dec
ember 1958 when he capsized his
kyak while retrieving a duck. Mr.
Murphy and his sons, Donald and
Patrick, flew to Adak the follow
ing Memorial Day and witha detail
of three Marines, hiked to the site
of the accident to fashion and em
bed a memorial marker in the rock
from which Sergeant Murphy had de
parted the shore of Shagak Bay.
Satisfied with the Memorial Mar
ker, the Murphy’s and the three
Marines, accompanied by the Prot
estant Chaplain returned to Shagal
Bay and conducted Memorial serv
ices committing the body of Mike
Murphy to God’s care.
The trip to Adak this year makes
the third for Mr. Murphy in rem
embrance of his son. He plans tc
make the trip an annual one. A<
Mr. Murphy stated on his initial
trip, he hopes that ’’the memorial
to my son will act as a warning
to others to exercise caution anc
avoid foolishness”, as indeed wc
at Marine Barracks hope that i1
serves this purpose. Tragic acc
idents are sometimes taken to aw
aken Marines and sailors (and all
sportsmen) to be careful whil<
hunting and fishing.
As we remember on Memorial Da;
those who have passed from thi:
life, by accident or dying for hi;
country, it is also well to remem'
ber and review safety rules am
habits and make use of them.