In honor of Lt. Michael P. Murphy
A Navy SEAL from Long Island who was killed while leading a reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines in Afghanistan will receive the nation’s highest military award for valor _ the Medal of Honor, President Bush announced Thursday.
Lt. Michael P. Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, is the first armed forces service member to receive the Medal of Honor for combat in Afghanistan, the Navy said Thursday. The medal is the nation’s highest military award for valor in action against an enemy force.
Two Medals of Honor have been awarded posthumously in the Iraq war: Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham, who was killed in 2004 after covering a grenade with his helmet; and Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, who was killed in 2003 after holding off Iraqi forces with a machine gun before he was killed at the Baghdad airport.
President Bush will present the Medal of Honor to Murphy’s parents at a White House ceremony on Oct. 22.
“His sacrifice reminds us of the dangers the men and women of our Armed Forces face in order to defend our nation,” said Rep. Timothy Bishop, a Democrat from Long Island. “I can think of no one more deserving of this medal today. It can never make up for his loss, but it extends the honor which he and his family so well deserve.”
According to a Navy citation, Murphy and three fellow SEALs were searching for a terrorist in the Afghan mountains on June 28, 2005, when their mission was compromised after they were spotted by locals, who presumably reported their presence and location to the Taliban. A fierce firefight ensued, with more than 50 anti-coalition militia firing on the outnumbered SEALs. Despite the intensity of the firefight, Murphy _ already wounded _ is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his comrades by moving into the open for a better position to transmit a call for help. While continuing to be fired upon, Murphy provided his unit’s location and the size of the enemy force. At one point he was shot in the back, causing him to drop the transmitter. Murphy picked it back up, completed the call and continued firing at the enemy who was closing in. Murphy then returned to his cover position with his men and continued the battle.
By the end of the two-hour gunfight, Murphy and two of his comrades were dead. An estimated 35 Taliban were also killed. The fourth member of their team managed to escape and was protected by local villagers for several days before he was rescued.
A name and a story your children should know. Tell them.
***
Blackfive has blogged Lt. Murphy’s heroism for quite a while. Check out all the background links.
Leave a message at Lt. Murphy’s Legacy.com page.
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- Hot Air » Blog Archive » The New York Crimes
- Cigar Intelligence Agency » Blog Archive » Too good for the Times
- The Liberal New York Times Ignores Medal Of Honor Recipiant
- Michelle Malkin » “He knew what he was fighting for”
- Major Mike’s Musings » Blog Archive » An American Hero
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A stand worthy made be a hero and worthy of the nation’s highest decoration. Our children should know about men like this.
God bless him and his family!
Rest.In.Peace.Lt.Murphy.
Thank God everyday that men like this one are willing to defend and sacrifice for our nation. God comfort his family.
The names of those other SEALS might ring a bell. They were Danny Dietz and Marcus Luttrell.
Thank you Lt. Murphy for your selfless actions.
God bless and comfort his family.
Stupid question, why aren’t these guys the ones up for the Nobel Peace Prize?
God bless him and his family.
God Bless & Keep You, Lt. Murphy.
A grateful nation mourns a truly heroic man and his equally heroic comrades in arms.
I read Lone Survivor a couple months ago. I’ve never been so deeply shaken by any war account. Mike Murphy, Matt Axelson, Danny Dietz and Marcus Luttrell are giants among men. Their story is one of the most powerful testimonies to the American spirit I’ve ever read. It’s fitting that all received Navy Crosses. And LT Murphy’s MOH is well deserved. God bless them all.
It is a rare indeed for such heroics. I would wonder where is his peace prize and where are those who would honor him and his kind?
I hope he is at peace.
Michelle, you are one of very few who can bring tears to my eyes… the vignettes of our heroes you regularly feature bring on a rush of pride and then come the tears.
May God Bless and Keep this Hero and comfort his family.
Tears at work. RIP Lt. Murphy.
All who serve in overseas duty, who support the current operations are heroic. My personal hero is Corpsman Christopher Braley at the Bathesda Naval Hospital recovering from an IED he took to the right side of his face outside of Falujah 3 wks ago. God speed in your recovery son.
It’s about time. What Mikey, Danny and Axe did were each worthy of the Medal of Honor. I am so glad hat Lt. Murphy is getting the recognition he deserves.
Lt. Murphy’s actions proved that indeed there are some things worth dying for. At the top of that list are Family, Friends, and Country.
Thank you Lt Murphy. I love you. I pray tht God will grant your family the “peace that passeth all understanding”
You are my hero!!
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.” — George S. Patton
Stands back and snaps a salute
Thank you LT Murphy, sir.
I attended the same high school as Murphy. Here is a link to a webpage on the official school district site about a United States Navy Parachute Team show and ceremony at the high school.
( http://www.pat-med.k12.ny.us/Schools/hs/articles/0607/navymurphy/index.html ).
Well spoken words for the sacrifices and bravery of true American heroes past and present. Rest in Peace Lt “job well done, Sir.” Salute!
Taps
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.
Fading light, dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night.
Thanks and praise, for our days,
‘Neath the sun, ‘neath the stars, neath the sky;
As we go, this we know, God is nigh.
Sun has set, shadows come,
Time has fled, Scouts must go to their beds
Always true to the promise that they made.
While the light fades from sight,
And the stars gleaming rays softly send,
To thy hands we our souls, Lord, commend.
Not at all stupid. My heart sinks when I look at the quality and character of the people we send to Washington to govern us, and compare it with the quality and character of men like this.
Wouldn’t we be better off if they traded places?
Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
Attributed to George Orwell.
May our nation be worthy of your heroism, Lt. Murphy.
Funny some posters should mention Nobel Prizes for military heroes, since a surprising number of Nobel scientists served in the military during peace and war, among them Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin.
How come this story is being overshadowed by the Bore award? I read “Lone Survivor” and would recommend it to everyone. It’s a tough read in a lot of spots but it is something we all need to know, not who Brittney, et. al. are doing.
On Monday it will be a year anniversary for a friend of my husband’s and one of our groomsmen, Cpt. Mark Paine. It’s men and women like Lt. Murphy & Mark, & everyone else who gave the last full measure of devotion and all I hear when I turn on the tv or radio is the incessant yapping of Al Bore and silly stories about him possibly running for Prez.
I also hope Bob, that our nation is worthy of the heroism of all these individuals.
Past time to start looking for candidates among those who have come home.
Thank you Lt. Murphy for your dedication and sacrifice for all of us. I salute you. May your family find some peace with this recognition of your bravery.
I only wish the President would make this presentation in front of a joint session of Congress and on National Television instead of in what will be a hardly covered ceremony at the White House.
It would serve as a reminder to all that we truly are at war and that we have brave men and women willing to give their lives to protect us and our way of life.
Read Luttrell’s account in “Lone Survivor”. It is the single best book I have ever read.
davidleerothmann is exactly right. Look at the caliber of the people we send to Washington. Pathetic swine. The “leaders” in D.C., and about half the country, do not deserve the sacrifice of Lt. Murphy or his comrades. As an American, I am deeply humbled by our military’s outstanding character and performance. They are our best and brightest.
Thank you Lt. Murphy, I will never forget you. I will tell your story to my children.
Thank you Mother and Father of Lt. Murphy for raising such a hero of a man.
He fought hard for US. Never forget.
Too bad the MSM won’t have a story on it, unless it is to try to smear him. There are some of us who will honor him.
I salute both the memory of Lt Murphy and his family. They gave us a very brave man.
Not that I could speak for him but I have a theory. If he had criticized the President, well, there you go.
GOD Bless for fighting forces and this family. Grant this family peace.
Thank you Lt. Murphy, and God Bless you and your parents
Something is seriously wrong when the media rates your courage and story less time and merit than just another brainless celeb scandal or D.W.I. And worst, that there are people who even less than don’t appreciate your sacrifice.
God Bless You.
James Greenidge
Queens New York
Its been a long time since I’ve read the words to taps.
Not a smart thing while at work.
Is Rome worth one good man’s life? We believed it once. Make us believe it again. He was a soldier of Rome. Honor him … Who will help me carry him?
- “Gladiator”
PaleoMedic #9 dido
It was hard to keep a tear back reading “Lone Survivor”
God Bless them all
The remarkable thing about Medal of Honor awardees is that “heroism” was the last thing on their minds. I’ve read several accounts of men who, when asked later about what they did, gave answers you’d never expect:
- Like the Korean War awardee who, after being shot in the face, single-handedly charged the enemy, killing several of them in close-quarter combat. His explanation for what he did? “When that bullet hit me, I guess I kind of stopped thinking.”
- Or the Vietnam War awardee who, when his platoon was being overrun by North Vietnamese troops, single-handedly stopped them by holding his position and laying down such a hail of gunfire that he broke the enemy attack. His comment? “It was the first time I ever fought stoned.”
Heroes are all around us. Most go unsung. But as long as we have them – not only our military service members, but people like the hundreds of FDNY firemen who charged into the World Trade Center to their deaths, without question and without hestation – I know that there will always be a United States of America.
Thank God that we are still a country that can make men like Lt. Murphy. And thank God that we can still make men who, not thinking of themselves or of heroism or of glory, do what they have to do in spite of the odds – like in the following account from WWII that I read as a child and have never forgotten:
The day after Betio Island was declared secure in November of 1943, Admiral Chester Nimitz with a small group of senior officers surveyed the aftermath of America’s first contested amphibious invasion. His arrival came so soon that most of the nearly 1,000 Marines who perished in the fighting still lay where they fell.
Nimitz said nothing until he came upon one such Marine, lying face-down just beyond the sea wall: his right arm was outstretched before him, and inches past his hand a small signal flag lay half-buried in the sand – it was a beach marker.
The Marine had been a pathfinder, one of the first to go ashore to show his comrades where to follow.
Turning to one of the other officers, with tears welling in his eyes Nimitz broke his silence to simply say, “How can such men be defeated?”
How can they?
Rest in Peace, Lt. Murphy.
Even the Taliban survivors no doubt were struck by these valiant SEAL’s, as they buried 35 of their own, against 4 SEAL’s…
Watch out for them SEAL’s Talitards…they’re pretty good!
Rohan, I’m not so sure I am worthy of his sacrifice either, in addition to those you mentioned, but nonetheless LT Michael Patrick Murphy and others have given all for my freedom. It humbles me and strengthens my allegiance to those who serve.
I look around and I see everyday Americans who give me hope in this nation, such as the Patriot Guard Riders, on whose website I found this quote:
“…for those who man the battle line, the bugle whispers low, and freedom has a taste and price the protected never know…”
God bless, and thank you, Lt. Murphy. My gratitude and condolences also go out to his dear family.
I have served with, and have known others who were awarded the Medal Of Honor. They were, and are the highest quality individuals. I thank God daily that this country still has such high caliber young people.
At another time, I will bring the question as to why our military is being held to the G.C. in regard to un-uniformed enemy combatants. Now I’m thinking of the great Navy hymn and since Lt. Murphy was killed on land, I’ll refer to the last verse of Eternal Father Strong to Save:
O Trinity of love and pow’r
All trav’lers guard in danger’s hour
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them where so e’er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to thee
Glad hymns and praise from land and sea.
A salute to a fallen comrade in arms. God bless Michael Murphy and his family.
http://bands.army.mil/music/bugle/calls/taps.mp3
I posted yesterday and it was deleted.
This happens quite often here. whats up?
God Bless Lt MURPHY and all the others
who sacrifice so much. I ditto the
General George S.Patton comments above.
Michael Murphy was from Long Island, NY. Michael Murphy was the first member of the military to win the nation’s highest award for valor, the Congressional Medal of Honor, in Afghanistan. Michael Murphy is a hero.
Yet, one of his hometown newpapers, the New York Times, did not print one word about him. But they did run stories on alleged abuses be the military.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10132007/postopinion/editorials/unfit_to_print_.htm
Nothing more to say that is printable.
As is often the case, Shakespeare captures the words and feelings. In Henry V, before the battle of Agincourt, Henry delivers the famous speech which ends:
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; …
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon St. Crispin’s day.
As one of the millions who must hold his manhood cheap light of the sacrafice of Lt. Murphy and the others like him I pray. Welcome him into your kingdom Oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his souls and the souls of all of the faithfully departed, in your Mercy, Rest in Peace.
Rest well, brave one.
Lt. Murphy squarely fits the criterion for the Medal of Honor. “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.” May his memory be an inspiration for us all.
Sailor, rest your oar…
Mission complete, Lieutenant. Job well done. Stand down, secure your weapon, and enjoy your liberty!
SFC (Ret) Timothy M. Jones
I will pray for him. We need more people like this, and he is an inspiration for all.
I thought the story sounded grimly familiar. I live at the other end of the Denver metro area from where the statue of Dietz was just dedicated this summer. Fitting tributes, all, to these brave men who have made their country proud.
SALUTE from one Vet to another . RIP Bro.