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

[Bagpus]

I'm going to find out how to go about it. Thank you. Time for new chapter to start.

Good luck.

 

[Snoangel26]

Won't his school records have his SSN? Since you know what school and years he attended, that would be a resource.

I have sent an email to the school district. Now to wait for a response

 

[Laughing]

I have sent an email to the school district. Now to wait for a response

Some of us old people didn't apply for a Social Security card & number until we were old enough to have a job.

I certainly don't want to discourage anyone, but am not sure the school would ave an SSN for him.

Now if they do -- that should allow you/LE/Senator to receive more information from the SSA!

 

[Stunned]

Some of us old people didn't apply for a Social Security card & number until we were old enough to have a job.

I certainly don't want to discourage anyone, but am not sure the school would ave an SSN for him.

Now if they do -- that should allow you/LE/Senator to receive more information from the SSA!

I was born in 1957. I remember getting them in either 7th or 8th grade in school. I remember Theresa in the desk in front of me in home room had the last # before mine and Marty behind me had the last # after mine.

 

[Snoangel26]

Some of us old people didn't apply for a Social Security card & number until we were old enough to have a job.

I certainly don't want to discourage anyone, but am not sure the school would ave an SSN for him.

Now if they do -- that should allow you/LE/Senator to receive more information from the SSA!

In 1975 he had a drivers license and enlisted in the service. I did request help from my senator and the response I got was they would need death certificate or his written permission. But maybe that was because she was requesting service records. On the letter she recieved about it was the last 3 numbers of his SSN

 

[jjonez]

I’m reading this thread for the first time and I haven’t read the whole thread yet, so I apologize if this has already been covered.

I believe you could probably cobble together a bit more of his SSN, at the very least. And possibly even figure out the entire number. Here’s a starting point you could pursue.

In 1957 the SSA assigned numbers to applicants according to it’s original numbering system.
The first set of three digits was the Area Number, the state from which a person (or their parents, on their behalf) first applied for a Social Security card. A quick look suggests that number would be between 440-448. Most of the people in his graduating class also born in ‘57 would most likely have the same first 3 digits.
The middle two digits were the Group Number and that’s a bit more complicated. But if you could figure that out, you would be left with just one more number to figure out. (44#-##-?###) And there are only 10 options.
Maybe then you could do a verification search, like employers do to verify that the names and Social Security numbers of hired employees match Social Security’s records. You would have to submit each of those 10 numbers individually, and there are fees involved. I don’t know if you need a business license, but I’ll leave that to you to research.

 

[Valiant]

Won't his school records have his SSN? Since you know what school and years he attended, that would be a resource.

Schools did not likely track SNs back then, and many students wouldn't have one. When I graduated high school in the 1980s many of my classmates didn't apply for an SSN until they got their first job or their drivers license.

 

[jjonez]

Have you interviewed any of his high school friends yet? They may have info on his state of mind, intentions, aspirations…. He may have even kept in touch with some one during his boot camp and military service. Young servicemen in that time period often wrote a lot of letters.

 

[Snoangel26]

Have you interviewed any of his high school friends? They may have info on his state of mind, intentions, aspirations…. He may have even kept in touch with some one during his boot camp and military service. Young servicemen in that time period often wrote a lot of letters.

I've contacted a few people from his high school they vaguely remember him. They did give me one name that he was kind of close too, but I haven't been able to find him.

 

[jjonez]

2025 will be the 50th anniversary of his graduating class. It’s very likely there will be some sort of reunion. The person or committee that organizes his class reunions may be a good resource for you to interview. They would have some experience in locating out of touch classmates and IME they are often busy body types. Also, if you haven’t found him before then, you should go to his class reunion and speak to every attendee. Another thought, is his HS guidance counselor still living? If so, I would interview them as well.

 

[Snoangel26]

2025 will be the 50th anniversary of his graduating class. It’s very likely there will be some sort of reunion. The person or committee that organizes his class reunions may be a good resource for you to interview. They would have some experience in locating out of touch classmates and IME they are often busy body types. Also, if you haven’t found him before then, you should go to his class reunion and speak to every attendee. Another thought, is his HS guidance counselor still living? If so, I would interview them as well.

Good idea about the guidance counselor. I'll post in his high school group and ask questions. Thank you

 

[jjonez]

I've contacted a few people from his high school they vaguely remember him. They did give me one name that he was kind of close too, but I haven't been able to find him.

RBBM

Is he missing too?! That would be an incredible “coincidence”.

 

[jjonez]

I assume you have already looked into his military associatons?

I got the impression that he was religious.
When he was at Pendleton, did he go to a church that was not on base? That community could be very helpful.
Also, his chaplain on base could be helpful. There would be a record of who that person was. Though I don’t know if ethics might prevent the chaplain from giving you any useful information.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I've contacted a few people from his high school they vaguely remember him. They did give me one name that he was kind of close too, but I haven't been able to find him.

That is a good idea... Most high schools have ongoing websites for alumni. Maybe you have already discussed this, but my class does from the late 60s, and people are often trying to find other classmates.

I do a lot of searching for friends, tracking down with success. You can private message the old friends name, and I will try to look. I'm only in and out of this thread,,,so my guess you have others who have tried tracking names for you.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Guess I best go back and read more, obviously many are on the same track....with the 50th, definitely go to the group that has been set up to manage the reunion. My class rep who manages our website, knows EVERYTHING. She privately helps people know of people having problems and issues, so we can reach out.

 

[jjonez]

Good idea about the guidance counselor. I'll post in his high school group and ask questions. Thank you

RBBM

A general post to the group may be good idea. Individual private messages to all the members of the group (whether you know them or not) may be a better idea. There are folks who might not respond publicly to such a sensitive matter. There are also folks who lurk but never post. Additionally, the extra effort you put in personalizes your request, and may convince someone who is on the fence to speak out.

 

[Snoangel26]

I assume you have already looked into his military associatons?

I got the impression that he was religious.
When he was at Pendleton, did he go to a church that was not on base? That community could be very helpful.
Also, his chaplain on base could be helpful. There would be a record of who that person was. Though I don’t know if ethics might prevent the chaplain from giving you any useful information.

I don't know if he went to church in the service. Idk who the chaplain would have been. I am not able to get any records.

 

[Stunned]

I don't know if he went to church in the service. Idk who the chaplain would have been. I am not able to get any records.

I think your best bet so far would be that reunion.

 

[FromGermany1]

In 1975 he had a drivers license and enlisted in the service. I did request help from my senator and the response I got was they would need death certificate or his written permission. But maybe that was because she was requesting service records. On the letter she recieved about it was the last 3 numbers of his SSN

I’m reading this thread for the first time and I haven’t read the whole thread yet, so I apologize if this has already been covered.

I believe you could probably cobble together a bit more of his SSN, at the very least. And possibly even figure out the entire number. Here’s a starting point you could pursue.

In 1957 the SSA assigned numbers to applicants according to it’s original numbering system.
The first set of three digits was the Area Number, the state from which a person (or their parents, on their behalf) first applied for a Social Security card. A quick look suggests that number would be between 440-448. Most of the people in his graduating class also born in ‘57 would most likely have the same first 3 digits.
The middle two digits were the Group Number and that’s a bit more complicated. But if you could figure that out, you would be left with just one more number to figure out. (44#-##-?###) And there are only 10 options.
Maybe then you could do a verification search, like employers do to verify that the names and Social Security numbers of hired employees match Social Security’s records. You would have to submit each of those 10 numbers individually, and there are fees involved. I don’t know if you need a business license, but I’ll leave that to you to research.

Snowangel, you do know the first three numbers, you said?

 

[jjonez]

I don't know if he went to church in the service. Idk who the chaplain would have been. I am not able to get any records.

I understand that you don’t know, but some one else might. I don’t know that his church attendance would be part of any “record”. And I suspect that people would be more helpful than records in this case. If his classmates noticed he carried a bible, his comrades at Pendleton may have noticed his church going habits. You could ask them. You could also ask them who the chaplain was when they were there. If you haven’t made contact with any of his fellow marines yet, it’s definitely an avenue worth pursuing.

Additionally, a quick google shows me this…

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton > Main Menu > Staff & Agencies > Chaplains

There are a ton of contact numbers at the bottom of the page. Talk to the current chaplain. These are kind and helpful folks. They can help you find out who the chaplain was in 1976. I bet with a little research, you might even find a record of previous chaplains online.