Santa Fe Springs Vietnam veteran struggles to prove citizenship

[pinboy3niner]

By Sandra T. Molina, SGVN
Posted: 09/25/2012 07:43:17 PM PDT


Vietnam veteran William Murphy, 67, of Santa Fe Springs has been trying for two years to retire and receive Social Security benefits only to be denied by the Norwalk office of the Social Security Administration. Murphy, who was born to an American GI and an English mother during WWII, came to the U.S. on the S.S. Queen Mary at 16 months of age and has the documentation to prove it. Murphy is pictured holding his birth certificate that documents his father as an American soldier Sept. 20, 2012. (SGVN/Staff photo by Leo Jarzomb)


SANTA FE SPRINGS - It's been a long haul for William Glen Murphy. He was born in England but his father was American. He traveled to the States on the Queen Mary, served in Vietnam as an American serviceman and then criss-crossed the country moving steel for 30 years.

Now that he wants to retire, he found out that he can't receive Social Security benefits because he can't prove his citizenship.

At least that's what the U.S. Government has adamantly told Murphy for the past two years.

"When I was born, I had dual citizenship," Murphy said. "Now, I'm a man without a country."

Social Security officials at the Norwalk office refused his proof of citizenship - his induction papers to the Army in 1965 - on his initial attempt to receive benefits.

"I was 65, and I wanted to retire," said Murphy, who will turn 69 Saturday. "I never thought it would turn out to be such a mess."

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http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_21629857/santa-fe-springs-vietnam-veteran-struggles-prove-citizenship