Murphy is killed in action during the war in Iraq.
In Kevin Powers’ novel “The Yellow Birds,” Private Daniel Murphy, often referred to as Murph, is a young soldier who befriends the protagonist, Private John Bartle. The story unfolds as Bartle recalls their experiences during the war. Murphy is depicted as a sensitive and somewhat naive soldier, struggling with the harsh realities of combat. As the narrative progresses, the psychological toll of the war becomes evident in Murphy’s behavior. He becomes increasingly disturbed, showing signs of mental breakdown due to the stress and trauma of their situation.
Tragically, Murphy wanders off from a checkpoint one night, driven by his deteriorating mental state. His body is later found by Iraqi civilians, and it is revealed that he was brutally tortured and killed. The loss of Murphy becomes a central point of guilt and grief for Bartle, who had promised Murphy’s mother that he would bring her son home safely. The novel delves into the themes of guilt, the senselessness of war, and the bond between soldiers, with Murphy’s death serving as a poignant reminder of the personal costs of conflict.
