Lt MURPHY Receives Medal Of Honor

[Kyt]

Family of slain Navy SEAL receives Medal of Honor

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny...dday-headlines

In a private moment before President George W. Bush awarded the Medal of Honor to the parents of Lt. Michael P. Murphy at a White House ceremony, the Long Island residents offered the president a token to remember their son's heroism -- a replica pair of military "dog tags" that bore an image of the slain sailor. The president slipped the tags around his neck and into his shirt.

Then, after lauding Murphy in a speech commemorating the award, the president turned to Murphy's father Daniel, patted his chest where the dog tags rested, and whispered a private remark.

"He said 'Good job, Murph, and I want you to know I was inspired by Michael, because he's right next to my heart," Daniel Murphy recalled in an interview with a reporter.

In a stirring White House ceremony attended by scores of ranking military leaders, elected officials and Murphy's friends and relatives, Bush presented Daniel and Maureen Murphy with the nation's highest military honor, awarded posthumously to the Patchogue Navy SEAL for risking his life to save men he led in battle in Afghanistan in June, 2005.

"For his courage, we award Lieutenant Michael Murphy the first Medal of Honor for combat in Afghanistan," Bush said, his voice at times choking with emotion. "And with this medal, we acknowledge a debt that will not diminish with time -- and can never be repaid.

"We're blessed to have mothers and fathers like Maureen and Dan Murphy who raise sons of such courage and character," Bush said. "And we're blessed with the mercy of a loving God who comforts all those who grieve."

After the presentation, the president hugged Daniel and Maureen Murphy, then led the room in a long round of applause.

"I'm so proud of him," Maureen Murphy said moments later. "It's such an honor to be asked to come here and accept the Medal of Honor."

Daniel Murphy, who smiled and brushed back tears, said his son died determined to protect America from those who launched the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

"If anything, Michael was a New York boy, so it was payback time," said Daniel Murphy, a law clerk in State Supreme Court in Riverhead. "This was about protecting our nation and the values it stands for."

The ceremony was attended by Vice President Dick Cheney, dozens of high-ranking Navy, Marine and Army officers and at least three Medal of Honor awardees.

Murphy was killed June 28, 2005, while leading three other Navy SEALs on a harrowing mission behind enemy lines on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in search of a Taliban leader.

According to an account provided by the Navy, the four had been discovered shortly after being inserted on a mountainside near the border, when a goat herder stumbled across their position.

After debating among themselves and deciding to let the shepherd go unharmed, the four men within hours were surrounded by scores of heavily-armed men.

Under intense gun fire, the four SEALs fled down the the steep mountainside -- making jumps of more than 20 feet. But they were unable to shake their pursuers. Their ammunition was running low. They were wounded and bleeding.

With his men cornered in a deep ravine and suffering from severe wounds, Murphy realized his only chance for getting help would be to leave the protection of their rocky hiding place and to get to an open spot where he could radio for help. So Murphy darted into the open to make the call, exposing himself to additional fire.

Hit at least once in the back while he was sending an SOS, he picked up the transmitter he had dropped, completed the call, and then returned to his position to resume the fight, according to accounts.

Murphy perished in the firefight along with two other SEALs: Sonar Technician 2nd Class Matthew Axelson, of Cupertino, Ca. and Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Danny Dietz, of Littleton, Co. Murphy is buried at Long Island's Calverton National Cemetery.

A third SEAL, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell, escaped with injuries after being blown off of a ridge and being secreted by another Afghan shepherd. Luttrell attended Monday's White House ceremony.

The incident also claimed the lives of eight other Navy SEALs and eight Army Night Stalkers who responded to Murphy's distress call.

The deaths struck a deep chord among the closely-knit community of Navy SEALs, a 2,300-man force that is often called on to perform stealth missions behind enemy lines.

James Quattromani, a Northwestern University law student and former SEAL who roomed with Murphy when the two men were stationed in Hawaii, said Murphy's decision to sacrifice himself for his men did not surprise him.

"Guys like Murph don't die as old men," said Quattromani, who also attended the ceremony. "They die as heroes."

And further details, including citation and photos can be found here:

http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/

[spidge]

Well deserved!

[Antipodean Andy]

I second that. Perfect example of why those deployed overseas should be supported to the hilt by those at home...no matter what they're opinion of the conflict is.