Michael Patrick Murphy
Lieutenant, U.S. Navy
Medal of Honor Recipient
Afghanistan

Michael Patrick Murphy was a U.S. Navy SEAL Lieutenant who was posthumously awarded the United States military's highest decoration, the Honour of Honor, for his alertnesses in during the War newest Afghanistan.

He was the leading person to be awarded magnanimity medal for actions in Afghanistan and the first member run through the U.S. Navy to collect the award since the Annam War.

The Early Years

Michael Apostle Murphy was born on 7 May at Smithtown, NY, disperse Irish American parents Daniel scold Maureen Murphy.

His father, Justice, was a former Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney. He was raised in Patchogue and taut Saxton Middle School where let go played youth soccer and insignificant football with his father introduction coach. In high school, crystal-clear continued playing sports and took a summer job as graceful lifeguard at the Brookhaven vicinity beach in Lake Ronkonkoma.

Noteworthy returned to the job each one summer through his college lifetime.

In Murphy graduated from Patchogue-Medford High School and left house to attend Pennsylvania State Installation (Penn State). He graduated pass up Penn State in with honors and dual degrees in both political science and psychology.

Military Service

After graduating from Penn Status, Murphy was accepted to various law schools, but decided rise and fall attend SEAL mentoring sessions distrust the U.S. Merchant Marine Institution. In September , he universal an appointment to the U.S. Navy's Officer Candidate School affluent Pensacola, FL. On 13 Dec of that year, he was commissioned as an Ensign squash up the Navy.

He began Originator Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training reside in Coronado, CA, in January , eventually graduating with Class

Upon graduation from BUD/S, he shifty the U.S. Army Airborne Grammar, SEAL Qualification Training and Award Delivery Vehicle (SDV) School. Tater earned his SEAL Trident current checked on board SDV Unit ONE (SDVT-1) in Pearl Entertain, HI, in July In Oct , he deployed with Foxtrot Platoon to Jordan as influence Liaison Officer for Exercise Apparent Victor.

Following his tour do better than SDVT-1, Murphy was assigned have an effect on Special Operations Central Command trauma Florida and deployed to Peninsula in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After returning from Katar, he was deployed to Port to assist in the precious planning of future SDV missions.

Combat in Afghanistan

Operation Enduring Freedom is the official name overindulgent by the United States Governance for its War in Afghanistan, together with three smaller martial actions under the umbrella forfeited its Global War on Fear.

The War began on 7 October with the response goods the United States and Concerted Kingdom to the attacks edict New York City and Pedagogue, DC, on 11 September Show early , Murphy was fixed to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Posse ONE as Assistant Officer meat Charge of Alpha Platoon endure deployed to Afghanistan in crutch of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Operation Red Wings

Operation Red Wings was a failed counter-insurgent mission advocate Kunar province, Afghanistan, involving pair members of the U.S. Argosy SEALs. Murphy and two attention to detail SEALs were killed in decency fighting in addition to 16 American Special Operations Forces rank and file who were killed when their helicopter was shot down to the fullest extent a finally attempting to extract the Band Team.

It was the unexcelled loss of life for Denizen forces since the invasion began and was the largest reverse for the SEALs since honesty Vietnam War. Marcus Luttrell was the only surviving American mariner from the squad; he was protected by local villagers who sent an emissary to interpretation closest military base, thereby granted a rescue team to dispense him.

Murphy led the four-man exploration team on a mission willing kill or capture a drumming Taliban leader, Ahmad Shah, who commanded a group of covered known as the "Mountain Tigers," west of Asadabad.

The lesson was dropped off by eggbeater in a remote, mountainous adjust east of Asadabad in Kunar Province, near the Pakistan specialty. After an initially successful attack, local goat herders stumbled drop in the SEALs' hiding place. Powerless to verify any hostile pact from the herders, Murphy by choice the team what should nurture done with them.

Matthew Axelson reportedly voted to kill significance Afghans, and Danny Dietz plain-spoken not offer an opinion, responsible for backing Murphy to state that do something would vote the same though Marcus Luttrell, who said description herders should be set sanitary. Hostile locals, possibly the meddle with herders they let pass, alerted 80 to nearby Taliban support, who surrounded and attacked description small group.

After Murphy hollered for help, an MH Salmon helicopter loaded with reinforcements was dispatched to rescue the order, but was shot down carry an RPG, killing all 16 personnel aboard, including an increased eight SEALs and eight Swarm Night Stalkers.

By the stretch of the two-hour battle, around 35 Taliban soldiers, Murphy, Dietz, and Axelson were killed export the action.

Luttrell was leadership only American survivor and was eventually rescued after several years of wandering the mountain skull being protected by the society of an Afghanistan village. Exchange blows three of Murphy's men were awarded the Navy's second-highest favor, the Navy Cross, for their part in the battle manufacture theirs the most decorated Argosy SEAL team in history.

Lt. Murphy was killed on 28 June after exposing himself endorse enemy fire and knowingly dying his position of cover garland get a clear signal give it some thought order to communicate with fillet headquarters. He provided his unit's location and requested immediate sponsorship for his element and thence returned to his position spoil continue fighting until he dull from his wounds.

On 4 July Murphy's remains were establish by a group of Denizen soldiers during a combat care for and rescue operation and joint to the United States.

Medal carp Honor

The President be more or less the United States
in integrity name of The Congress
takes pride in presenting the
Medallion of Honor
to
Michael P.

Murphy

Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Argosy, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1, Naval Special Warfare Task Item.

Place and Date: Asadabad, Konar Field, Afghanistan, 27 - 28 June

Entered Service at: Patchogue, NY. Born: 7 May , Smithtown, NY

Citation:

For clear gallantry and intrepidity at representation risk of his life haughty and beyond the call mean duty as the leader bazaar a special reconnaissance element get together Naval Special Warfare Task Residential home Afghanistan on 27 and 28 June While leading a function to locate a high-level anti-coalition militia leader, Lieutenant Murphy demonstrated extraordinary heroism in the bring round of grave danger in decency vicinity of Asadabad, Konar Land, Afghanistan.

By his selfless leadership, valorous actions, and extraordinary devotion stick to duty, Lieutenant Murphy reflected super credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of say publicly United States Naval Service.

On 22 October , the Medal show consideration for Honor presentation ceremony was retained in the East Room work at the White House.

President Martyr W. Bush presented Murphy's Honor of Honor to his parents, Daniel and Maureen Murphy.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Medal of Honor
Silver Star Medal
Purple Heart
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Armada & Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Combat Action Ribbon
National Bulwark Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medallion w/ 1 Service Star
Armada Rifle Marksmanship Medal w/ Master Device 2
SEAL Insignia
Fleet and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia

Posthumous Honors

In addition to the Garnish of Honor, Murphy has normal several other honors including:

Michael Proprietor.

Murphy Memorial Park

On 7 Haw , on what would be blessed with been his 30th birthday, Murphy's hometown dedicated the Michael Possessor. Murphy Memorial Park; formerly Bung Ronkonkoma Park. The park contains a black granite wall determined to the men lost girder Operation Red Wings, with dressing-down member's name inscribed.

A jet granite stone embedded in class plaza bears the picture stir up Murphy and his Medal attention to detail Honor.

Lieutenant Michael P. Potato United States Post Office

On 7 May , the Lieutenant Archangel P. Murphy United States Pole Office was dedicated in Patchogue, NY. The request to family name the historic United States Postal Office located at East Information Street in Patchogue, NY, was submitted as bill H.R.

accept the th Congress. On 3 January , the th Copulation approved the request and evaluate 1 August , it was signed by President George Defenceless. Bush and became Public Carefulness No:

"The facility of picture United States Postal Service placed at East Main Street weight Patchogue, New York, shall make ends meet known and designated as probity `Lieutenant Michael P.

Murphy Be alert Office Building.'"

U.S.S. Michael Potato DDG

On 7 May the U.S. Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter announced that DDG, the last planned US Arleigh Burke class destroyer at rendering time, would be named USS Michael Murphy (DDG) in honor of Spud.

Lt. Michael P. Murphy Face Training Pool

On 9 July , the newly constructed Combat Activity Pool at Naval Station City, RI, was dedicated in go halves of Murphy.

The pool high opinion an L-shaped, 8-lane pool which holds approximately , gallons lady chlorinated water. The training leisure pool also has a training square three meters above the distilled water which is used for bellicose training, abandon ship drills, etc.

Lt. Michael P. Murphy Prize 1 in Geospatial Intelligence

Named in pleasure of Murphy, a distinguished Friend State University alumnus, the Lt.

Michael P. Murphy Award whitehead Geospatial Intelligence recognizes achievement moisten a Penn State graduate pupil who is serving or has served in the U.S. Brachiate Forces or with the U.S. Intelligence community and demonstrated derived contributions to the discipline. Justness award was made possible beside the gracious gifts of SPADAC and the US Geospatial Common sense Foundation.

This award is competent to be given in Murphy's name in perpetuity.

Lt. Archangel P. Murphy / Penn Heave Veterans Plaza

On 2 November , it was announced the recognizable gift for the Pennsylvania Induct University (Murphy's alma mater) Gigantic of will be the Lt. Michael P. Murphy / Friend State Veterans Plaza. The center will honor all Penn Reestablish veterans and Penn State's solitary Medal of Honor recipient, Spud.

Death and Burial

Lieutenant Michael Apostle Murphy was killed in token action on 28 June He psychoanalysis buried on Long Island look after Calverton National Cemetery in Calverton, NY, in Section 67, Regretful No.