USS Michael Murphy: Navy SEAL Honored With Warship Bearing His Name
- Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:16am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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BATH, Maine (AP) — Engaged in a frenzied firefight and outnumbered by the Taliban, Navy Lt. Michael Murphy made a desperate decision as he and three fellow SEALs fought for their lives on a rocky mountainside in Afghanistan’s Kunar Province in 2005.
In a last-ditch effort to save his team, Murphy pulled out his satellite phone, walked into a clearing to get reception and called for reinforcements as a fusillade of bullets ricocheted around him. One of the bullets hit him, but he finished the call and even signed off, “Thank you.”
Then he continued the battle.
Dan Murphy, the sailor’s father, said it didn’t surprise him that his slain son nicknamed “The Protector” put himself in harm’s way. Nor was he surprised that in the heat of combat his son was courteous.
“That was Michael. He was cool under fire. He had the ability to process information, even under the most difficult of circumstances. That’s what made him such a good SEAL officer,” Murphy said.
A warship bearing the name of the Medal of Honor recipient will be christened Saturday — on what would have been Murphy’s 35th birthday — at Bath Iron Works, where the destroyer is being built.
Murphy, who was 29 when he died, graduated from Pennsylvania State University and was accepted to multiple law schools, but decided he could do more for his country as one of the Navy’s elite SEALS — special forces trained to fight on sea, air and land — the same forces that killed Osama bin Laden this week in Pakistan.
Heightened security will be in effect as Murphy’s mother, Maureen, christens the ship by smashing a bottle of champagne against the bow of the 510-foot-long warship as Murphy’s father, brother and others watch.
Murphy, of Patchogue, N.Y., earned his nickname after getting suspended in elementary school for fighting with bullies who tried to stuff a special-needs child into a locker and for intervening when some youths were picking on a homeless man, said Dan Murphy, a lawyer, former prosecutor and Army veteran who served in Vietnam.
Maureen Murphy said he thought he was too young to take a desk job as a lawyer. Instead, he went to officer candidate school, the first step on his journey to become a SEAL officer. He was in training during the Sept. 11 attacks, which shaped his views.
His view was that there are “bullies in the world and people who’re oppressed in the world. And he said, ‘Sometimes they have to be taken care of,’” she said.
On June 28, 2005, the day he was killed, Murphy was leading a SEAL team in northeastern Afghanistan looking for the commander of a group of insurgents known as the Mountain Tigers.
The Operation Red Wings reconnaissance team rappelled down from a helicopter at night and climbed through rain to a spot 10,000 feet high overlooking a village to keep a lookout. But the mission was compromised the following morning when three local goat herders happened upon their hiding spot.
High in the Hindu Kush mountains, Murphy and Petty Officers Marcus Luttrell of Huntsville, Texas; Matthew Axelson of Cupertino, Calif.; and Danny Dietz of Littleton, Colo.; held a tense discussion of the rules of engagement and the fate of the three goat herders, who were being held at gunpoint.
If they were Taliban sympathizers, then letting the herders go would allow them to alert the Taliban forces lurking in the area; killing them might ensure the team’s safety, but there were issues of possible military charges and a media backlash, according to Luttrell, the lone survivor.
Murphy, who favored letting the goat herders go, guided a discussion of military, political, safety and moral implications. A majority agreed with him.
An hour after the herders were released, more than 100 Taliban armed with AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades opened fire, attacking from higher elevation, and maneuvering to outflank the SEALs, said Gary Williams, author of “Seal of Honor,” a biography of Murphy.
Dan Murphy said his son made the right call.
“It was exactly the right decision and what Michael had to do. I‘m looking at it from Michael’s perspective, that these were clearly civilians. One of them was 14 years old, which was about the age of his brother. Michael knew the rules of engagement and the risks associated with it,” the father said.
As the only survivor, Luttrell has pangs of regret for voting to go along with Murphy, his best friend; he now believes the team could’ve survived if the goat herders were killed.
In his own book, “Lone Survivor,” Luttrell wrote that Murphy was shot in the stomach early in the firefight, but ignored the wound and continued to lead the team, which killed dozens of Taliban attackers. The injuries continued to mount as the SEALs were forced to scramble, slide and tumble down the mountain in the face of the onslaught.
Three of the team members had been shot at least once when Murphy decided drastic action was needed to save the team, Luttrell wrote. With the team’s radio out of commission, Murphy exposed himself to enemy gunfire by stepping into a clearing with a satellite phone to make a call to Bagram Airfield to relay the dire situation. He dropped the phone after being shot, then picked it up to complete the phone call with four words: “Roger that, thank you.”
By the end of the two-hour firefight, Murphy, Dietz and Axelson were dead. The tragedy was compounded when 16 rescuers — eight additional SEALs and eight members of the Army’s elite “Night Stalkers” — were killed when their MH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade.
It was the largest single-day loss in naval special warfare history. All told, 33 SEALS have been killed in action since the Sept. 11 attacks, officials say.
Luttrell, who was blown off the mountain by a rocket-propelled grenade and knocked unconscious, evaded capture until he was taken in by villagers who protected him until he was liberated five days later by special forces. He has since left the Navy, gotten married and launched a foundation; he‘s unable to attend Saturday’s event because his wife is in the final days of pregnancy, a spokesman for Luttrell said.
Navy Cmdr. Chad Muse, commanding officer of SEAL Delivery Team 1 in Hawaii, noted one of Murphy‘s favorite books was Steven Pressfield’s “Gates of Fire,” an account of outnumbered Spartans and their epic battle against hundreds of thousands of invading Persians nearly 2,500 years ago at the Battle of Thermopylae.
Like the Spartans, who were ultimately slaughtered, Murphy had a spirit that didn’t give up. “It’s about sacrifice and the Spartan ideal — and valor and heroism in battle,” Muse said.
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Comments (180)
kickagrandma
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 9:03am@TROOPER ~~~ “read before you post”.
You, too, my friend.
If you notice “HOME” is in all caps signifying HOME/HEAVEN. This world is not our HOME, although we have homes here.
Discerning eyes and spirits READ. Sorry you missed it.
I know the young man is dead. I wept for him then, and I still weep for our nation’s loss.
Report Post »nomercy63
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 9:03amThank you Lt Murphy you and so many of you have given up your tomorrows for our todays, Revolutionary War to today
Report Post »tooksdad
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 9:02amLet me just say that I completely agree with securing the border. However, you dirt bags that get on here just to make a show.. you make me sick.
I think it is great that they are naming this ship after a amazing soldier. You can read the whole story in “Lone Survivor” It’s a amazing read. I just want to say congrats to Marcus and your wife on your soon to be child.
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:59amFood stamps office another good location–although they’ll probably be protected there….
Report Post »LastAmerican
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:58amThe real superman. With a tear running down my cheek, I am heartened to know there are still Americans like this. It gives hope to us all. Thank you Murphy family for your ultimate sacrifice. I say a prayer for your son.
Report Post »dpselfe
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:58amHaving served on the lead ship of this class, The USS Arleigh Burke, I can say that this ship has one of the most honorable names. I hope it’s Sailors never forget the sacrifice Murphy gave. BZ!
Former FC1 (SW) USN
Report Post »trooper
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:56amIf they ever, G*d Forbid” build a ship that they are forced to name after BO, they will have to gather up a crew of liberal homosexuals to boy the ship, notice I did not say “man”. In addition: it would only have the ability to steer to the left.
Report Post »bigjack940
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 2:28amThat only boat named after,oblama, should be a garbage scow. beyond that, Same thing with muretha. Hes a traitor through, and throu8gh, and should be tried, and put in pr4ison, just like a lot of other politicians, that are in our govt. at this point. Next thing, I want to hold aloft, every one of our military, who on adaily basis , put their lives on the line for the USA,and , don’t ask for any acknowledge for their actions. This from a former Marie, THANKS , and, SEMPER FI.
Report Post »FarmSpy
Posted on May 7, 2011 at 11:48amI agree with the comment about Murtha, except that prison would be a nice reprieve for him, since he died in Feb 2010.
bigjack940
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 2:28am
That only boat named after,oblama, should be a garbage scow. beyond that, Same thing with muretha. Hes a traitor through, and throu8gh, and should be tried, and put in pr4ison, just like a lot of other politicians, that are in our govt. at this point.
Report Post »rappini
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:55amRead the book Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell it tells everything that happened in Afstan. They had planned on a movie but it went into limbo.
Report Post »Ole Country Doctor
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 12:32pmI hoped a “ Hollywood entity” would have made an attempt at a movie, but in many ways, Hollywood abdicated its ‘role’ of America’s Cheerleader, if it was at all. It is best left as a great epic to be read. When I do retire someday, and begin teaching High School American History, the book LONE SURVIVOR will be on my required reading list to get anything above an “F”.
Report Post »Gorp
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:55amGod Bless Michael Murphy and the rest of the Seal Team. I read Marcus Luttrell’s book “Lone Survivor” and it is the best book I ever read. It‘s about the only book I couldn’t put down.
Report Post »D0ntTread0nMe
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:54amIt’s men like this that makes us exceptional. People who fight and fight until death. God bless you sir, you deserve this honor.
Report Post »http://www.mythoughtsfromthemiddle.blogspot.com
hobbs
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:50amVery fitting, and I hope it brings strength to the family left behind. Semper Fi Lt. Murphy, go with God.
Report Post »kschmud
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:49am“Lone Survivor” is a very inspiring book and a well told story. It made me laugh and made me cry. I admire all of the men who fought that day and those who lived and died in the rescue. I am happy that Michael Murphy is being honored in this way. I cannot express in words the full appreciation I have for our military
Report Post »geonj
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:47am“killing them might ensure the team’s safety, but there were issues of possible military charges and a media backlash, according to Luttrell, the lone survivor.” these brave men need clearer rules of engagement so they don’t have to sacrifice their lives to political correctness and a media that overreaches their mandate. 100 goatherders who hate American soldiers is a small price to pay to protect one American warrior.
Report Post »gofigureinternational
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 10:34amJust one of many reasons that it is nearly impossible to even identify the true “enemy” in this theatre of war, much less an end strategy or benchmarks for victory or loss!
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:45amThey should have, at least, tied up the goat herders.
Report Post »MaggieRose
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:45amWell done, Lt Murphy. You have the thanks of a grateful nation. We will never forget. We will never surrender. On this National Day of Prayer, we have so much to be thankful for.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:43amNapoletano of “The border is more secure than ever before” fame will just let them come across even the terrorists and those trained by terrorists. She has ordered police forces in AZ and border patrols to not bother with the arresting and detention of most border crossers anyhow.
Report Post »onegodinkansas
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:43amThank you to the Murphy family & other loved ones left behind. A true hero.
Report Post »PAPAROACH
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 10:31amAMEN. Heaven has a new HERO.
Report Post »deadbeatjoe
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:40amGood. A ship named for a real hero rather than a politician.
Report Post »This goes a long way to counterbalance the foolishly named USS Murtha
SgtBarrett
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 10:06amWithout a doubt!
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 10:27amPlease tell me that’s a row boat. That can’t be true. Tell me the Navy named a jail after Murtha.
Report Post »Arizona 9-12
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 10:54amThis ship will do as it’s valiant namesake and protect, ironically maybe even the Murtha.
Report Post »May God Bless our soldiers and sailors!
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:38amI forgot it was Beaner Day. I’m sure WalMart would be a good lookout spot, too. As for those restaurants celebrating this day, I will stay far away from them.
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:36amI am laughing AWALL although feeling guilty about doing so on this thread. You and all replies will surely get wiped.
Report Post »wewantchillywilly
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:36amthere’s a guy you can set your watch to.
Report Post »OUTRIDER WRITER
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:34amLt. Michael Murphy, AMERICAN
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:32amI can hardly wait to meet this young man at HOME, give him a great big hug and say, “Thank you!”
We need so many more like him here.
GOD BLESS his family, his friends and Marcus!
Report Post »trooper
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:51amIf you read the story you would know that the man died in the attack after after putting his life on the line to help save his team. Read before you post.
Report Post »Freedom Trooper
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 9:10amI think that Kick meant in heaven, which is why kick used Capital letters in the word Home.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 9:12amtrooper, I think you misunderstood her interpretation of the word “home”; hence the capital letters.
Report Post »Eric
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 9:27amTrooper, why are you the only person who failed to see she was referring to Heaven by her use of the word “HOME.” Notice how she capitalized it, too, to avoid any confusion by trolls like yourself.
KICKAGRANDMA, I will be giving him a huge thank you when I return home, too, one day. (God-willing not anytime soon though!)
Report Post »USAPLISKENXI
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 10:06amTROOPER
Report Post »I took it to mean the BIG Home in the sky.
God bless our troupes and The United States of America.
gofigureinternational
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 10:28amI believe she was likely referring to her “heavenly home”, where he surely resides.
Report Post »lbowz
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 10:33amI agree… this earth is NOT our HOME.
Report Post »zao1011
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 11:25am@ TROOPER
One would assume that Kickagrandma meant heaven. Hence the captilization of HOME. Think before you post.
Report Post »THPBBHT!
patriot308
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 12:20pmMaybe trooper should engage brain before posting??????????
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 1:16pmGOD Bless our HEROES .
Report Post »Washington
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 12:44amThe HOME referred to is the afterlife, where we can all meet and talk it over
Report Post »awall1231
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:26amthey were gonna call it the USS Michael Moore but it would have to have been alot fatter.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 9:00amIf they had called it that, she would have sunk into the earth and went to the core of the planet before they even launched her.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 10:27amNO one would want to serve on a ship with that name …
Report Post »FifthWheel
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 4:39pmYeah, but the gas turbines would have had free fuel from that gas bag Moore! What a contrast between Michael Murphy and Michael Moore. The first a hero and ultimate patriot, the second a complete and total traitor.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:26amConsidering other ships in this class are named after people like Arleigh Burke and John Barry, this is a great honor.
Report Post »Czar Casm
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:37amA warrior in every sense.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:42amIndeed, may the crew and the ship serve as defenders of the nation as well as Michael Murphy did, he gave everything for the nations freedom battling enemies from without; thank you for having served and for the father serving as well.
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 9:17amThese days are a solemn reminder of the need for our military and its exceptional quality.
Proud and thankful.
Report Post »BIGJAYINPA
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 9:46amWhy is it that this is the only place that I have heard this story?? Even Fox is falling all over itself with coverage of Obummer at Ground Zero. Not even a peep anywhere. Dear Lord, either guide us back to Your Ways or smite this evil country, Your choice but please make it soon. Amen
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 10:05amThis is truly a hero in every sense of the word. A man like this is the type we should be applying our standards to our youth and all Americans. Thank you Mr. Michael Murphy, God bless you.
Report Post »Armed Patriot
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 10:21amCongratulations Lt. Murphy. A fitting tribute to a US hero. It is a shame that Marcus Luttrell couldnt be there. Damn shame.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 10:26amGod Bless him for his and his families sacrifice … this is a GREAT way to honor this HERO — may all who serve aboard be blessed also!
Report Post »Gail_B_Bell
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 12:38pmAs long as this has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the Evil One, I guess it’s A-OK!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 12:39pmWell done SIR, I bet Jesus will have you as an Office in his Army of Christian Soldiers.
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 12:52pmThis story greatly affected me. This goes far beyond any “tough decisions” in the news these days. Kind of puts things into perspective. These elite enter the world of impossibly difficult decisions to prevent us from having to face what they faced. What their parents must feel is also impossibly difficult–knowing your child didn’t survive because of his trust in humanity and belief in good.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 1:08pmOur military are always thinking of protecting the children, but these monsters poison their children from birth. They teach their kids to add and subtract using grenades and guns. Very sad, but true. It’s a culture that has submitted to an evil god, and loves the dark side of mankind it has embraced: power, control, terror, deception and death. And we are supposed to live in harmony with said culture?
The media wants us to lose any war we fight, and they are our worst enemy; traitors who hate God, our Republic and our military. There is a special place in h*ll for those b******.
Thank you to the families of every brave man who died that day. Thankfully, as Grandma said, they are HOME, where they have been conferred the highest honors by the ONE who really counts.
Bring our boys home, Hussein, you coward. You have no intention of winning the war you started.
Report Post »SavingtheRepublic.com
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 1:13pmYou left out John Murtha getting a ship named after him. This is definitely a breath of fresh air. Whats even sadder is this new “policy” of naming aircraft carriers after Presidents when we have to come to the realization the next one will be named USS Barack H Obama
Report Post »touch
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 2:30pmAmericans are truly blessed to live in a country protected by men of such GREAT CHARACTER and INTEGRITY.
Thank you Navy Seals, so very, very much!
Report Post »Multiple Arms
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 3:19pm@BIGJAYINPA Read Marcus Luttrell’s Lone Survivor for more details about Lt. Murphy.
Report Post »Mainer forever
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 3:59pmO.K….so I’m assuming you all read Marcus Lutrells book? The story of this mans bravery is unbelievable. O.k.,,,now be HONEST…how many of you cried while reading Lone Survivor? The namming of a warship after this American Hero is such an honor. Why aren’t there more people like Mike Murphy out there?
Report Post »Cowboy Dan
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 5:35pmThank you for mentioning these men. Had you not mentioned their names, I might not have looked them up. Great honor, indeed, and well earned.
Thanks be to God that there still are men like this. Please, God, let me show such courage should I ever have the need and the opportunity. If I cannot show it, at least let me see it and follow such a leader.
Report Post »BlackPantherParty
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 7:48pmIt’s a damn shame MEN like this are killed when These are exactly the type of men we need running this country!
Report Post »bbquizzle
Posted on May 5, 2011 at 7:57pmNo other book has made me as emotional as Lone Survivor did, and I’ve read scores of books. I did cry. The actual events, combined with the way Lutrell wrote about them, are VERY powerful.
God bless the SEALs and all military personnel, active and retired.
Report Post »GRANNYMOO
Posted on May 7, 2011 at 5:06amThis is why America will always win!
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