Long Island Man Given Medal of Honor
A Navy SEAL from Long Island who was killed in combat in Afghanistan will be awarded America's highest military award, the Medal of Honor, the White House announced yesterday.
Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, of Patchogue, will become the first member of the armed forces to receive the award for combat in Afghanistan and the third for service in the global war on terrorism.
Murphy, who died at age 29, was killed June 28, 2005, while on a reconnaissance mission in enemy territory in northeastern Afghanistan, according to the Navy. Murphy's four-man unit, which he commanded, was searching to provide intelligence on a high-level Taliban leader when they came under attack from Taliban fighters.
Outnumbered by at least four to one, with all four men wounded, Murphy moved out of cover to a position where he could radio for help in an attempt to save his men. While doing so, Murphy was shot in the back, though he was able to finish the radio transmission, the Navy said.
A helicopter with reinforcements came to aid Murphy's unit, only to be shot down by Taliban fighters, killing all 16 aboard. Murphy and two of the men in his unit died, though a fourth, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell, sustained heavy injuries but lived to recount the attack. The battle resulted in the day with the largest loss of life for Navy Special Warfare personnel since World War II, according to the Navy.
"We are thrilled about the President's announcement," the Murphy family said in a statement. "The honor is not just about Michael, it is about his teammates and those who lost their lives that same day."
The story of Murphy's death has been a subject of much attention, both locally and nationally, propelled in part by a book written on the event by Mr. Luttrell. The announcement that Murphy will receive the Medal of Honor prompted a host of statements by elected leaders praising his service.
"A true hero in every sense of the word, Lieutenant Michael Murphy's life is a testament to honor on and off the battlefield," Senator Clinton said in a statement.
Murphy's hometown of Patchogue met the announcement about the Medal of Honor with great admiration, according to Mayor Paul Pontieri Jr. "People are tremendously proud," he said. Murphy was a well-known, well-regarded figure in the town, Mr. Pontieri said, serving as both a notable football player and a lifeguard while younger.
"He was a name that was known — both by adults and children," Mr. Pontieri said. "He had leadership qualities all the way through school."
Murphy's father, Daniel Murphy, himself a recipient of the Purple Heart for service in Vietnam, will be presented the award at the White House on October 22. About 3,400 members of the military have received the honor since its creation in 1861.
