WWII DFC Medal
140421-Z-HC784-044 -- Col. Phillip R. Sheridan awards the Distinguished Flying Cross to Alfred P. Murphy in a ceremony at his home in Rochester Hills, Mich., April 21, 2014. A veteran of World War II, Murphy was a radio operator and gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. Murphy completed 35 combat missions during the war, including a massive aerial strike on the German industrial city of Merseberg in 1944, during which six of the 12 B-17s in his squadron were lost to enemy action. Murphy’s record was not fully evaluated after the war and he was only recently re-considered for the medal. Sheridan is the commander of the 127th Wing, Michigan Air National Guard, Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Holding the tray with the medal is Pvt. James Stevens, 1776th Military Police Company, Michigan Army National Guard. The Soldier is Murphy’s great-grandson. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by John S. Swanson / Released)