On Memorial Day, I honor the memory of Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy by sharing his story.
Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy
Murphy was raised on Long Island (in Patchogue). He went to college at Penn State and earned a dual bachelors in Political Science and Psychology. After college he accepted commission in the Navy and began Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S). Murphy officially became a SEAL in July of 2002. After deployments to Jordan, Qatar, and Djibouti he was deployed to Afghanistan as officer in charge of Alpha Platoon. But Murphy’s journey as a leader started long before BUD/S.
In 8th grade he earned himself the nickname “the protector” after fighting off a group of boys who were shoving a fellow student into a locker. The group was bullying a student with special needs and Murphy intervened, physically pulling the attackers away. Years later he protected a homeless man who was being attacked while collecting cans. He chased away the attackers and helped the man pick up his cans that were spilled during the altercation. It’s for these reasons that those who knew Murphy were not surprised by the actions he would take in Afghanistan.
On June 28, 2005 Lt. Murphy was leading a four man SEAL team on a reconnaissance mission in the mountains of Afghanistan at the unforgiving altitude of about 10,000ft. The SEALs were scouting a terrorist leader of a local guerrilla group of insurgents that had aligned with the Taliban. Things quickly went sideways when their mission was compromised after being spotted by local nationals, who presumably reported their location to the Taliban. The insurgents went out after them and a fierce firefight erupted between the four SEALs and the much larger enemy force.
The enemy had the SEALs outnumbered and also had a terrain advantage. The SEALs were being attacked from 3 sides forcing them deeper into a ravine. The team was pinned down. The communications officer was unable to place a distress call back to base and was eventually mortally wounded. The extreme terrain was preventing them from getting a message out and Murphy knew he had to act.
Unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own life Lt. Murphy fought his way into the open to gain a better position to transmit a call to get help for his men. In a deliberate and heroic act he exposed himself to increased enemy gunfire and made contact with headquarters requesting assistance. He calmly provided his unit’s location and the size of the enemy force while requesting immediate support for his team. At one point during the call 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. In his final act of bravery, he returned to his cover position with his men and continued to engage the enemy until he was mortally wounded, gallantly giving his life for his country and for his men.
Murphy’s actions ultimately led to the recovery of the remains of the three who were killed in the battle, as well as the rescue of his one surviving teammate, Marcus Luttrell.
Lt. Murphy was an exemplar of courageous and selfless leadership. His character and integrity were reflected in his choices throughout his life up until the very end. I thank Lt. Michael Murphy and all other servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the preservation of our lives and liberty. I aspire to learn from his example and I share his story in the hopes that others will be inspired to strive for the character, courage, integrity, and selfless leadership which Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy represents.