by: Ryan Forde
Introduction
One
person who made a difference during World War II was William L. Dunphy.
Mr. Dunphy is the father of my uncle Richard Dunphy. He is a hero in
not just my eyes, but in the eyes of the citizens of our country as
well. It was because of his courage that we, as a nation, are free. He
fought in a war in the South Pacific. Mr. Dunphy served overseas for
two years and fought a war in the South
Pacific while in the United States Army. He represented our country
well and was a very well-respected man within the ranks of the Army.
Pre-War
Mr. Dunphy enlisted into the United States Army in 1940 much to
the dismay of his parents and siblings. He was sent immediately to
North Carolina where he would stay and train until the tragic day of
December 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Mr. Dunphy was in North Carolina when
he heard of the catastrophic attack in Hawaii. He was a proud
member of one of the first regiments to be deployed. He was a member of
the thirty-five hundred soldier regiment, 101st Medical Regiment, and
was sent to the South Pacific on January 23, 1942.
1st STOP- AUSTRALIA
Mr. Dunphy traveled by ship through the Panama Canal to
Melbourne, Australia. His regiment arrived on February 26, 1942 more
than a month after leaving North Carolina. Once they arrived they, were
disappointed to learn that they had no place to stay and so they were
then moved to Balarat, Australia where the regiment would stay with
private families. Mr. Dunphy’s host was the Murray Family. After
staying there for three weeks, they moved to New Caledonia, Australia,
where they were met by two other regiments. Here is where Mr. Dunphy
was promoted to Tech Sergeant, the second highest rank in the
regiment.
 |
His job in the medical regiment was to deliver supplies to other soldiers in need and transport materials. People in this position were not supposed to carry weapons; however, he was given a gun to protect himself from any attacks that might occur. Three regiments were then combined into a division of almost 18,000 soldiers. As they were a combination of different units they did not have an identity and were in need of a name. They finally compromised on the name “Americal” which is a cross between the words “America” and “New Caledonia”- where they were located at the time. The logo for the “Americal” division is the South Star which is considered the big dipper of the Southern Hemisphere. The reason for their stay in Australia was that they had been called for back-up because the Japanese were progressing south towards them. Mr. Dunphy and his new division the Americal stayed put until further instructions were given to them. |
Mr. Dunphy and his new “Americal” division got word
of fighting going on between the Japanese and the United States Marines
and were called for back-up to the small island of Guadalcanal on
December 23, 1942. When the “Americal” division got to
Guadalcanal they were warmly welcomed by the Marines who had been under
constant attacks from the Japanese. Mr. Dunphy and his men stayed in
combat from the time that they arrived until victory was complete.
During this time Mr. Dunphy and his division were forced to live in
dug-out ditches and small tents in the forest. This victory was claimed
on February 9, 1943 when the remaining Japanese survivors surrendered.
3rd STOP- FIJI
After Guadalcanal was secured by the Americans, Mr. Dunphy and
his division went up to Fiji and regrouped for their push to Japan.
| While in Fiji there was a breakout of the disease malaria. 90% of one of the regiments contracted this illness and were given a “special” American pill to kill off the illness. I say “special” in quotes because on its journey to Fiji, it was intercepted and poisoned by the Japanese. All of those who took the pill died, but luckily Mr. Dunphy was not one of them. The Army has a special point system where soldiers can accumulate points that can be used to be transferred. It is based on a number of factors including marital status, children, years in combat, and other things of that nature. Mr. Dunphy qualified and was placed in a lottery and in May of 1944 went back home. Mr. Dunphy left his “Americal” division, but the division itself proceeded to Japan and its surrounding islands. Mr. Dunphy left for the States shortly after the colonel shared the news that he had won his chance to go home and landed in the Army Barracks of New Orleans, Louisiana on June 5, 1944. |  |
BACK HOME
After arriving in Louisiana, Mr. Dunphy was given the option of a
number of places to go. He chose Lake Placid, New York and arrived
there in July of 1944. He still worked with the Army and worked with
POW’s while greeting soldiers that had just come home from war.
Today, Mr. Dunphy lives in West Roxbury, Massachusetts but still keeps
in touch with his “brothers” he lived with for two and a
half years. When asked about what he learned in the Army, he said:
“Just do what you are supposed to do" and "do what you are
told”.
WORKS CITED
Primary Source-
1. Interview with Mr. William L. Dunphy
2. Journal of Mr. john L. O'Neil
Secondary Sources-
1. Under the Southern Cross. 3rd ed. Boston: Americal Division Veterans Association, 1978.
2. Guadalcanal Campaign, August 1942- February 1943. 18 Nov. 2001. 5 Jan. 2006 <http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/guadlcnl/guadlcnl.htm>.
3. Buckle, James C. Americal Newsletter 2005.
1. Interview with Mr. William L. Dunphy
2. Journal of Mr. john L. O'Neil
Secondary Sources-
1. Under the Southern Cross. 3rd ed. Boston: Americal Division Veterans Association, 1978.
2. Guadalcanal Campaign, August 1942- February 1943. 18 Nov. 2001. 5 Jan. 2006 <http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/guadlcnl/guadlcnl.htm>.
3. Buckle, James C. Americal Newsletter 2005.