Martin County

Amateur Radio Association

Southern Signal Corps School Special Event Station at JD Park Hobe Sound

PRESS RELEASE (PDF) 07 June, 2010

On 19-20th of June 2010, the Martin County Amateur Radio Association will host a special event station celebrating the 150th anniversary of the US Army Signal Corps at Camp Murphy, Florida. If you would like to help promote the event you may download a PDF handbill for the special event which may be printed for distribution. Radio Amateurs and others who would like to operate or help in the event are invited to fill out the Special Event Participation Survey to help with logistics planning.

Signal Corps men standing on radar tower 

Operations should be mainly on the 40 meter band around 7260KHz and on the 20 meter band around 14260KHz from 1400 UTC to 2030UTC (1000 EDT-430PM EDT). All HF Bands will be active for CW, SSB, and some digital modes. The station will be located near the bunker at Hobe Mountain Tower in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Hobe Sound, FL.

 

The event station will use the club call sign K4ZK, Camp Murphy. Stations who contact the special event stations can get a Suitable for framing commemorative certificate and QSL card by sending us a written log of their contacts.

 

The goal of the operation is to contact as many other Radio Amateur stations as possible during the two day event increasing awareness of the historic contributions made by our troops and citizens. Guests are welcome to stop by and even grab a microphone to get on the air. The first day of the event coincides with "Kid's Day" so please feel free to bring youngsters and oldsters alike to visit with us. Park admission fees do apply at $4.00 per car or $6.00 per vehicle with 2-8 people.

 

About Camp Murphy

 

At the beginning of WWII the Signal Corps transferred all aircraft warning training to the Southern Signal Corps School at Camp Murphy, Florida, the camp was built in record time (about 4 months) and was home to thousands of troops. Among others, Colonel David Sarnoff (Radio/TV pioneer, President of RCA and NBC) was present at the camp dedication ceremonies which were broadcast over a State-wide radio network. Here is a flash based presentation covering the History of Camp Murphy.This is slightly more than the single line afforded in the offical Signal Corps History book titled "Getting the Word Out". We also have an unabridged History of Camp Murphy as listed in the camp record book. Some of the lack of documentation on Camp Murphy may be attributed to the clandestine nature of the camp itself; which has areas off-limits to the public even today.   The site of Camp Murphy was selected by Major James W. Green, assisted by Martin County engineer John A. Stafford.

Camp Murphy flag raising and HQ building- tar paper only

Camp Murphy was named after Colonel William H. Murphy who was once head of the Fort Monmouth Signal Corps Laboratory and one of the first Signal Corps casualties of WWII.

 

Camp Murphy is now known as Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, Florida. When activated the camp had 854 officers and 5,752 enlisted men stationed at the post. 

 

 

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Showing comments 1 to 4 of 6 | Next | Last
Jeannine Neubecker
Posts: 7
Comment
Father's History - William H. Duffey
Reply #6 on : Thu December 01, 2011, 10:48:33
My Father served in the Signal Corps at Camp Murphy. Until his dying day he never reveal what they actually did there. All he ever said was "We slept with the alligators and snakes in the Everglades. " Afterwards he served in the South Pacific including New Guinea and the Phillipines. He told a story about jumping off an aircraft carrier into the Coral Sea. Reason he was on a navy ship. He had to fix the admiral's radio. He took to his grave what he actually did do.
John Dykes
Posts: 7
Comment
Barracks Restoration
Reply #5 on : Sun May 08, 2011, 20:12:20
Let me first say my Grandfather was a fireman at Camp Murphy during the war. I am restoring one of 3 of the original barracks from the camp that FEA Ministries Inc. has on its property in Hobe Sound. I have tried to keep the exterior period correct. I would love to see any photos you might have of the camp barracks. Am thinking of dedicating part of the building in memory of those who served at the camp.
Ron Murphy
Posts: 7
Comment
father's hidden history - William O. Murphy
Reply #4 on : Wed February 09, 2011, 16:17:51
I am only now starting to learn more about my dad's "clandestine" connection to radar during the war. As a young man, he left Kentucky and was trained at Camp Murphy in Radar, eventually retiring from the Air Force's Electronic Systems Command. He was in charge of all of NORAD's early warning installations along the Eastern seaboard. Dad along with two other individuals working at the Lincoln Laboratories developed one of the first "ground control approach" radar systems, VOLSCAN. During the Cuban Missle Crisis he was placed in a special underground installation til the event difussed - I wonder if he returned to here??
Liz Parks Blachinsky
Posts: 7
Comment
My father was stationed at Camp Murphy
Reply #3 on : Tue July 06, 2010, 19:20:13
My father was stationed at Camp Murphy starting in November, 1943. Once he completed his training there he was sent to the Marianna Islands.
Showing comments 1 to 4 of 6 | Next | Last

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