Marine Staff Sergeant Stephen L. Murphy
April 27, 1973 ~ November 9, 2009
Operation Iraqi Freedom
2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group
Camp Lejune, NC
36, of Jaffrey, NH; died as a result of a non-hostile incident in Asad, Iraq.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group
Camp Lejune, NC
36, of Jaffrey, NH; died as a result of a non-hostile incident in Asad, Iraq.
Stephen was born in Gardner, MA, the son of Carol A. (Murray) Murphy and Steve Packard.
Stephen’s foster family didn’t know what to make of him when he first arrived in his early teens. His hair was purple and green, and he was always listening to heavy metal music. “His hair was his pride and joy,” said his foster sister, Lynn Quade. “He was such a heavy metal dude.” He loved playing his guitar, a prize possession, modeled after one played by Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Randy Rhodes.
Stephen graduated from Conant High School in Jaffrey, where he was a member of the school’s ski team and track and field team. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 1993. He remained an avid cross-country skier and while in the Marine Corps, was training to reach his goal of participating on the Olympic cross-country ski team.
Family and friends remember Stephen as an inspiration and a hero. His sister Lynn said Steve was best friends with her brother, John Covey. He lived with the Covey family for about seven years before he joined the Marines. "This world is desperate for real and true role models," Lynn said. "But Steve was someone to look up to. “He always thought we were the ones who helped him, but really he was the one. He was such a blessing." She said she had a hard time picturing him joining the military. He was tender and a man of few words. But she said his integrity and his need to protect and stand up for people made the job perfect for him.
Stephen is fondly remembered as a quiet, tender man, who still loved to play his guitar and go skiing. He once joined a search party to look for a lost boy. He found the child and waited with him at the base of a mountain for help to arrive.
“He touched this earth, and he left behind all beautiful things for people in this town,” said his mother, Carol Murphy.
He enlisted in the Marine Corp in February of 1993. During his 16 years with the Marine Corp, he served in the United States European Command, Marine Corps Forces Pacific, US Forces Korea and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He is survived by his mother, Carol A. Murphy, 3 sisters; Lisa Voisnet, Shelley Murphy and Christina Metcalf and his extended family.
Stephen’s foster family didn’t know what to make of him when he first arrived in his early teens. His hair was purple and green, and he was always listening to heavy metal music. “His hair was his pride and joy,” said his foster sister, Lynn Quade. “He was such a heavy metal dude.” He loved playing his guitar, a prize possession, modeled after one played by Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Randy Rhodes.
Stephen graduated from Conant High School in Jaffrey, where he was a member of the school’s ski team and track and field team. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 1993. He remained an avid cross-country skier and while in the Marine Corps, was training to reach his goal of participating on the Olympic cross-country ski team.
Family and friends remember Stephen as an inspiration and a hero. His sister Lynn said Steve was best friends with her brother, John Covey. He lived with the Covey family for about seven years before he joined the Marines. "This world is desperate for real and true role models," Lynn said. "But Steve was someone to look up to. “He always thought we were the ones who helped him, but really he was the one. He was such a blessing." She said she had a hard time picturing him joining the military. He was tender and a man of few words. But she said his integrity and his need to protect and stand up for people made the job perfect for him.
Stephen is fondly remembered as a quiet, tender man, who still loved to play his guitar and go skiing. He once joined a search party to look for a lost boy. He found the child and waited with him at the base of a mountain for help to arrive.
“He touched this earth, and he left behind all beautiful things for people in this town,” said his mother, Carol Murphy.
He enlisted in the Marine Corp in February of 1993. During his 16 years with the Marine Corp, he served in the United States European Command, Marine Corps Forces Pacific, US Forces Korea and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He is survived by his mother, Carol A. Murphy, 3 sisters; Lisa Voisnet, Shelley Murphy and Christina Metcalf and his extended family.
