Navy Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy was killed in action in Afghanistan on 06/28/2005.
American Hero. President Bush will present the Medal of Honor to Navy Lt Michael P. Murphy’s parents at a White House ceremony on 10/22/2007. Lt Murphy is the first Navy SEAL to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. He was killed in action in Afghanistan on 06/28/2005, one of our worst days in Afghanistan with a total of 19 Americans killed that day. He was killed in the Hindu Kush mountains while searching for a key Taliban leader.
His four-man SEAL team was ambushed by the Taliban, the team engaged in a firefight [I have watched part of the fight on a video firmed by the Taliban for propaganda purposes]. Lt Murphy was wounded, but risked his life to save one of his shipmates, and then moved to an open position to make an emergency radio distress call and to continue shooting at the Taliban. When making the call, he was shot again.
This was a sad day for our troops in Afghanistan. Only one of the SEALs on the team survived the battle. Sixteen troops [8 SEALs and 8 Army Soldiers] sent to help Lt Murphy and his team were also killed when their Chinook helicopter was brought down by a Taliban rocket-propelled grenade. This incident was the worst single-day loss of life for Navy Special Warfare personnel since World War II.
What about the other three members of Lt Murphy's team? The other three members were Petty Officer Second Class Matthew G. Axelson [killed in action], Petty Officer Second Class Danny P. Dietz [killed in action], and Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell [wounded in action]. All three were awarded the Navy Cross, this award is second only to the Medal of Honor.
Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell is the author of Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10.
Only two other service members [Marine Corporal Jason Dunham and Army Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith] have been awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery for actions since the start of the global war on terrorism in 2001. These awards were for bravery in Iraq, and both were awarded posthumously.
Thanks for reading.
16 comments:
A "heart grasping" post, cfs.
I'm sure this story is near and dear to your heart considering your Navy career.
Thanks for your sharing and have a good day.
Inspired
This was a very sad event and I wrote about it when it became public on The Lowest Rated Monologue [another web site]. I did not include on my post the story of the lone survivor, Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell. He was blasted by an RPG into an area where the Taliban could not find him. During a period of four days [badly injured and presumed dead by our military - but I remember the military continued to search for his body] he crawled for miles through the mountains and received refuge by Good Samaritans risking their own lives to keep him safe in an area controlled by the Taliban. True American Heroes. Have a fine Texas morning.
cfs
God bless Lt Murphy and his family.
God bless our troops.
I have read exerpts from "Lone Survivor" and it is on my must read list ... I need to find time to get through this list.
Ever notice that most MOH's are awarded postumusly? I had the opportunity to meet and speak with one winner (not postumous). Col Matt Urban (Army ... awarded the MOH for his actions during WWII) was the man, and I was in awe.
Terri
Thanks for dropping by and thanks for the comment. Not related to this post, but I read about another good catch by the LVPD, good job by the LVPD personnel!
Have a fine Vegas evening.
cfs
Paul
I listened to a radio interview with Petty Officer Luttrell in which he talked about what happened during the operation. Incredible, this man is a true hero. YES, the majority of the MOHs are awarded posthumously. I was stationed on a good warship named after one of the battles of WWII, 15 MOHs were awarded for the battle, 8 of them posthumously. In the San Diego area we are lucky to have several MOH awardees, we get to meet them in our warships, we were always available for their visits. Have a fine Texas evening.
cfs
HI LRB, Outstanding......Didn't know you were Navy.... AF here.Vietnam, Korea, Missed operation camel.....Stay well..
Tapline
Thanks for dropping by and thanks for your comments. I was a Sailor once ... and young. My last few years in the Navy were dedicated to take care of the little guys, treating everyone with respect, and teaching basic seamanship to junior shipmates. I can proudly say that I was a sea-going Sailor for three decades. I loved to teach my shipmates. I continue to do my physical fitness workouts at a Navy Base, so, I see my old shipmates almost on a daily basis, and they still call me by my military title [and that is always fun]. Already then, have a fine MAINE evening.
cfs
hi there!..he deserves all the love and recognition in the world...Semper Fi!
WHT
What a pleasant surprise! Thanks for dropping by and thanks for your comments. I concur with your comment. Have a productive day and Semper Fidelis!
cfs
Which one??
Terri
In ref to the latest LVPD arrest, his name is Chester Arthur Stiles, the loser accused of videtaping himself raping the 3yr-old girl. He was the focus of a nationwide manhunt and this is a great catch for the LVPD. So, the LVPD have added Chester the Molester to their arrest listing. They were involved in the capture of the polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, and they arrested the loser OJ. The LVPD is on a roll.
Terri, have a fine Vegas evening.
cfs
It is good to see that there are still some heroes getting credit for what they do.
I'm back-with a mysterious new blog and a mysterious new name. I'm going to be anonymous just like you!
that is a very nice portrait of him!!
i want to give other soldiers medals too :)
Revolucionario
Thanks for dropping by and thanks for getting back in the action. On your new blog [keep it generic, it is good to be anonymous like the cfs guy]. I have updated my list of compadres here with El Revolucionario [a la Dr Ernesto El Che Guevara]. Have a fine Revolution day!
cfs
Niki
Good morning, thanks for dropping by and thanks for the comment. Lt Murphy was a fine YOUNG man. It is sad to see so many YOUNG men and women on our fatalities listing. War is hell. Have a fine JAPAN evening.
cfs
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