The Green Bay Packers and Network Health paid special tribute to U.S. Army veteran Jim Murphy during Thursday night's game against the Miami Dolphins for 'Operation Fan Mail.'
This year marks the 18th season of Operation Fan Mail, the program that recognizes military families and veterans at each Packers home game.
Inspired by his family's history – his mother and father met while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II – Murphy joined the U.S. Army in 1969 at the height of the Vietnam War. He left for basic training 55 years ago today – also Thanksgiving Day – on his 19th birthday. Murphy was deployed overseas to Pirmasens, West Germany as a member of the 32nd AADCOM, 2nd Battalion, 56th Artillery. While in Germany, he was stationed with a Nike Hercules missile outfit, driving two-and-a-half ton trucks to transport parts and radar equipment from his direct support platoon to missile sites. Murphy was honorably discharged from the Army in 1972.
A native and current resident of Ridgeway, Wis., Murphy has been a Packers fan all his life. Murphy attended the game with his wife Kay, son Ryan, daughter-in-law Nicole and brother Tom, who nominated him for recognition at tonight's game as he celebrates his 74th birthday.
Operation Fan Mail, which debuted in 2007, is designed to honor those who are on active duty or are veterans of the military, along with their families. In addition to being recognized on the video boards prior to the game, selected families will receive four tickets to the game, courtesy of Network Health. The Packers and Network Health will host a family at each 2024 home game and recognize them on the field during pregame activities. A total of 214 families have been saluted during the past 17 seasons.
To choose families, the Packers and Network Health are asking interested families, or friends of eligible families, to submit an essay, 500 words or less, on why a particular fan should be saluted this season.
Essays can be sent to Operation Fan Mail, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI, 54307-0628 or online at packers.com/Lambeau-field/operation-fan-mail. Families intended for recognition are those that have a member of their family serving on active duty, or a member of their family who is a veteran. The family member can be a spouse, mother, father, son, daughter or sibling.
