Wisconsin US Navy League

This scholarship was started by the La Crosse Wisconsin Council to honor their WWII Merchant Marine Veteran, Francis Murphy (Fran). Fran was raised on a farm near La Crosse, Wisconsin. As a newly minted high school graduate, he learned about the need for US Merchant Marines and enlisted. During his service to our nation from the fall of 1944 to 1951, Seaman Murphy made 57 round-trip Atlantic crossings on 8 different ships; 5 cargo ships, 2 tankers and his first ship, the Santa Rosa, a converted troop ship. The Navy League of the United States Wisconsin councils have each supported this scholarship fund to honor Fran’s life who, like many US Merchant Mariners, were collectively vital to the success of the armed forces–yet often unheralded. Fran was a true WWII sea service hero. It is fitting to name this scholarship in his honor at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy as the academy trains students for careers in the maritime industry.