OK OK - Stephen “Steve” Lee Murphy, last seen in Claremore sometime in 1976, not reported missing until July 2022

[imstilla.grandma]

I guess this is just a weird coincidence. I haven’t read the whole thread yet. Apologies if previously discussed.

Stephen Murphy - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

simple.wikipedia.org

 

[megs1477]

I guess this is just a weird coincidence. I haven’t read the whole thread yet. Apologies if previously discussed.

Stephen Murphy - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

simple.wikipedia.org

Statistically, it’s even probable! Lol

Stephen was a Top 100 choice 100 years ago. It lost a little favor in the 1920s and 30s, but came roaring back in the 40s, 50s and 60s. In fact, the height of the name’s popularity was in the late 1940s and early 1950s when it sat on the Top 20 list of most favorite boy names. It maintained high usage in the 70s, 80s and 90s

https://ohbabynames.com/all-baby-names/stephen/#:~:text=The%20name%20Stephen%20has%20been,most%20commonly%20used%20boy%20names.

"Murphy" is the most common surname in Ireland, the fourteenth most common surname in Northern Ireland, and the fifty-eighth most common surname in the United States.

Murphy - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[OddOneOut]

I guess this is just a weird coincidence. I haven’t read the whole thread yet. Apologies if previously discussed.

Stephen Murphy - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

simple.wikipedia.org

It could explain why his daughter can't find any information on him. As a federal agent his identity is probably being protected. Also, his family may or may not know what a federal agent is doing or be willing to tell if they do know.

 

[OddOneOut]

I guess this is just a weird coincidence. I haven’t read the whole thread yet. Apologies if previously discussed.

Stephen Murphy - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

simple.wikipedia.org

Apparently, this isn't the right Stephen Murphy. This one is from West Virginia and was a police officer at the time the other one was running back and forth AWOL.

 

[OddOneOut]

Since someone posted that Stephen trained as a mortarman, I decided to see what a mortarman does. This link is interesting: Marine Corps Mortarman (MOS 0341) - Operation Military Kids

 

[Snoangel26]

I guess this is just a weird coincidence. I haven’t read the whole thread yet. Apologies if previously discussed.

Stephen Murphy - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

simple.wikipedia.org

I did look as well. Not him

 

[Laughing]

@Snoangel26 , on this Memorial Day, I want to thank you for your Dad's military service and the military service of all members of your family (and of my fellow posters.)

I understand that your Dad is not a combat vet, and possibly didn't feel suited to the service, yet he served!

You serve & honor his life, young lady, thanks for this as well.

Best, Laughing

 

[Snoangel26]

@Snoangel26 , on this Memorial Day, I want to thank you for your Dad's military service and the military service of all members of your family (and of my fellow posters.)

I understand that your Dad is not a combat vet, and possibly didn't feel suited to the service, yet he served!

You serve & honor his life, young lady, thanks for this as well.

Best, Laughing

Thank you. And thank every member who has served, continues to serve and family members serving.

 

[Snoangel26]

I tried once again for his service record. Get the same result. Unsuccessful in identifying a service record for him. The detective had told me that his fingerprints were ran and nothing showed up, for any criminal record or deceased. I'm at a blank at what else to do. I haven't figured out the rest of his SSN

 

[Bagpus]

I tried once again for his service record. Get the same result. Unsuccessful in identifying a service record for him. The detective had told me that his fingerprints were ran and nothing showed up, for any criminal record or deceased. I'm at a blank at what else to do. I haven't figured out the rest of his SSN

How very frustrating. You must feel like you're banging your head against a brick wall.

Thinking of you.

 

[Snoangel26]

How very frustrating. You must feel like you're banging your head against a brick wall.

Thinking of you.

Seems the brick wall get bigger every time. I can't stop til I get something

 

[loveplace]

Seems the brick wall get bigger every time. I can't stop til I get something

There are often times like that in a search like yours, but I'm very sorry for the pain that comes with it. We will keep poking at this, all of us, so hopefully at least it can help some that you're no longer alone in your looking. Over time it seems additional records shake loose now and then or a more sympathetic person will be reached by one of your attempts. I hope that happens for you soon.

 

[Snoangel26]

There are often times like that in a search like yours, but I'm very sorry for the pain that comes with it. We will keep poking at this, all of us, so hopefully at least it can help some that you're no longer alone in your looking. Over time it seems additional records shake loose now and then or a more sympathetic person will be reached by one of your attempts. I hope that happens for you soon.

Thank you so much. Tomorrow is another day.

 

[Snoangel26]

Can anyone tell me what NPRC registry number is used for? One of my request to multiple places gave me a number. Saying that it is Stephen's number. Any insight please.

 

[Laughing]

Can anyone tell me what NPRC registry number is used for? One of my request to multiple places gave me a number. Saying that it is Stephen's number. Any insight please.

Now I used Google, but apparently

National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)

www.familysearch.org

This is the St. Louis repository of military records. Some records were lost in a big fire in 1973.

Supposedly, many of the usual workers were off for COVID for a looooong time?

If you don't get much response from a paper letter with that NPRC number -- maybe a letter from your Congressional representative or your Senator would?

Especially if that elected person is on a Defense committee.

Sounds promising to me.

Crossing my fingers & sending up more prayers for you, @Snoangel26 !

 

[Snoangel26]

Now I used Google, but apparently

National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)

www.familysearch.org

This is the St. Louis repository of military records. Some records were lost in a big fire in 1973.

Supposedly, many of the usual workers were off for COVID for a looooong time?

If you don't get much response from a paper letter with that NPRC number -- maybe a letter from your Congressional representative or your Senator would?

Especially if that elected person is on a Defense committee.

Sounds promising to me.

Crossing my fingers & sending up more prayers for you, @Snoangel26 !

I'm gonna send email to my senator and see if she can get anything

 

[Laughing]

I'm gonna send email to my senator and see if she can get anything

You are a brilliant, resourceful daughter persisting with difficult work!

And, you certainly have more patience than me.

 

[Snoangel26]

You are a brilliant, resourceful daughter persisting with difficult work!

And, you certainly have more patience than me.

Thank you. There have been times that I wanted to give up, but than a dear friend of mine pushes me on. I truly appreciate everyone's help,advice, and encouragement

 

[sassyblue]

I am so very sorry this has been such a battle for you to find your father.

Several years ago a sibling of mine told me "our" dad was not MY dad. I'm the eldest and my mom was pregnant with me when they married. I was told my mom had told them that fact in confidence but they felt bad that I was deluded for years in thinking he was my father.

I thought I was having a heart attack as my heart stopped beating and I couldn't breathe.

I've been the family genealogist since I was 12 years old and I was in my late 50's when I was told that. Needless to say I was completely devastated. Half of the family tree I had worked so hard on was null and void according to that spiteful witch.

But I had done dad's DNA years before to prove his line of ancestry. Something that no one had paid attention too when I asked him to do it. So I promptly did my own DNA test and he is indeed my father.

So even though it was a few weeks ordeal my world was restored and the dad I'd known all my life was indeed my dad.

I have a tremendous amount of sympathy and respect for you and your battle to solve the mystery of your absent father. And I pray you get answers someday and closure some way or another!

 

[megs1477]

I just realized I never posted my relatively useless update...
I spoke with the Detective on this case last week. He confirmed that fingerprints were run through all available databases with no hits. His name/DOB was also run with no results. They are trying to get records from SSA to see if there were any hits on his SSN since 1976. I questioned the May 1976 date of last contact in Namus versus the Military Records showing a November 22 1976 date of last contact. He expressed that he did not have full confidence in the military records. My impression from our conversation was that he felt Stephen was still alive living under an alias. I did a quick search and found the following article.
$50 for a full set of papers.