Difference between revisions of "Michael P. Murphy"
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[[Image:mohmurphy.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy]] | [[Image:mohmurphy.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy]] | ||
| − | '''Michael Patrick Murphy''' was a [[United States Navy]] [[SEAL]] lieutenant posthumously awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] on October 22, 2007.<ref name=>[http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/index.html Lt. Michael P. Murphy USN]</ref> for his actions during Operation Redwing. He was the first person and the first member of the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] to be awarded the medal for actions in [[Afghanistan]]. | + | '''Michael Patrick "Murph" Murphy''' (1976 - 2005) was a [[United States Navy]] [[SEAL]] lieutenant posthumously awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] on October 22, 2007.<ref name=>[http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/index.html Lt. Michael P. Murphy USN]</ref> for his actions during Operation Redwing. He was the first person and the first member of the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] to be awarded the medal for actions in [[Afghanistan]]. Murphy was also awarded the [[Purple Heart]], Combat Action Ribbon, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon and National Defense Service Medal.<ref name="bio">[http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/bio.html Michael P. Murphy biography]</ref> |
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| + | ==Biography== | ||
| + | Michael Murphy was born on May 7, 1976 in Smithfield, [[New York]] to Dan and Maureen Murphy. He grew up in Patchogue, New York, and had a younger brother named John. Murphy attended Saxton Middle School, and graduated from Patchogue-Medford High School in 1994. He was active in sports, and had a summertime job as lifeguard at Brookhaven town beach in Lake Ronkonkoma in both high school and college.<ref name="bio"/> | ||
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| + | Murphy attended Penn State University, graduating with honors in 1998. While attending Penn State, he continued participating in sports, and excelled in ice hockey. Murphy earned two bachelor's degrees, in political science and psychology. Instead of attending one of the several law schools where he had been accepted, Murphy decided to participate in the SEAL mentoring sessions at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy held at Kings Point. In September 2000, Murphy was appointed to the Navy's Officer Candidate School at Pensacola, Florida.<ref name="bio"/> | ||
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| + | ==Operation Redwing== | ||
On June 28, 2005, during [[Operation Enduring Freedom]], Murphy and three other [[Navy]] [[SEALs]] were pinned down by a group of around 50 [[Taliban]] militants near the [[Pakistani]] border. With each of the men wounded, they retreated into cover on a rocky mountainside. Unable to send a distress call from their isolated position, Murphy left the safety of the position to obtain a signal, willingly exposing himself to enemy fire. After making contact, Murphy was hit in the back by enemy fire, but continued to transmit his unit's location. | On June 28, 2005, during [[Operation Enduring Freedom]], Murphy and three other [[Navy]] [[SEALs]] were pinned down by a group of around 50 [[Taliban]] militants near the [[Pakistani]] border. With each of the men wounded, they retreated into cover on a rocky mountainside. Unable to send a distress call from their isolated position, Murphy left the safety of the position to obtain a signal, willingly exposing himself to enemy fire. After making contact, Murphy was hit in the back by enemy fire, but continued to transmit his unit's location. | ||
Revision as of 00:09, August 12, 2011
Michael Patrick "Murph" Murphy (1976 - 2005) was a United States Navy SEAL lieutenant posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on October 22, 2007.[1] for his actions during Operation Redwing. He was the first person and the first member of the U.S. Navy to be awarded the medal for actions in Afghanistan. Murphy was also awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon and National Defense Service Medal.[2]
Biography
Michael Murphy was born on May 7, 1976 in Smithfield, New York to Dan and Maureen Murphy. He grew up in Patchogue, New York, and had a younger brother named John. Murphy attended Saxton Middle School, and graduated from Patchogue-Medford High School in 1994. He was active in sports, and had a summertime job as lifeguard at Brookhaven town beach in Lake Ronkonkoma in both high school and college.[2]
Murphy attended Penn State University, graduating with honors in 1998. While attending Penn State, he continued participating in sports, and excelled in ice hockey. Murphy earned two bachelor's degrees, in political science and psychology. Instead of attending one of the several law schools where he had been accepted, Murphy decided to participate in the SEAL mentoring sessions at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy held at Kings Point. In September 2000, Murphy was appointed to the Navy's Officer Candidate School at Pensacola, Florida.[2]
Operation Redwing
On June 28, 2005, during Operation Enduring Freedom, Murphy and three other Navy SEALs were pinned down by a group of around 50 Taliban militants near the Pakistani border. With each of the men wounded, they retreated into cover on a rocky mountainside. Unable to send a distress call from their isolated position, Murphy left the safety of the position to obtain a signal, willingly exposing himself to enemy fire. After making contact, Murphy was hit in the back by enemy fire, but continued to transmit his unit's location.
The first rescue helicopter to arrive was downed by rocket fire, killing all 16 on board. Before the rest of the rescuers could reach the battlefield, Murphy and two of his companions had been killed, but had managed to kill an estimated 35 Taliban. The fourth SEAL, Marcus Luttrell, who was knocked out by a grenade which knocked him over a cliff, was able to escape with serious wounds, traveling seven miles on foot to a friendly village. A resident made contact with a nearby Marine base, and Luttrell was rescued on July 2.
The heroic actions of Lt. Murphy allowed for the rescue of Luttrell and the recovery of the others' remains.