John Murphy was born in Tipperary, Ireland, and had served in the Irish Army before he moved to Australia.
John enlisted in the Army during the Australian Government's K Force recruiting initiative. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR). John served in Korea from 16 March 1951 to 8 April 1952, participating in the battles of Kapyong and Maryang San.
John remembered the experiences of the World War II veterans being important to the cohesion of the unit. Another important group to the efficient functioning of the unit was the Korean porters, who brought up food and ammunition, often under fire. Korea was, he said, a devastated country full of refugees displaced by the fighting.
John vividly remembered the unnerving Chinese attacks in the night, with whistles sounding and bugles blowing. One night his company faced 5 enemy assaults. He recalled the awful moans and groans of the wounded as they lay on the cold open battleground, awaiting treatment. John found the sight of napalm wounds particularly gruesome, with burned flesh and bones bared.
John was wounded by a grenade blast at Kapyong.
