Lt. Michael P. Murphy > any of us
Purple Hawk
Posts: 1,300
The White House announced Oct. 11 that the family of U.S. Navy SEAL, Lt. Michael P. Murphy will be presented the U.S. Navy Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously, during a ceremony at the White House Oct. 22.
The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States.
Murphy’s father, Daniel, will accept the award on behalf of his son. Murphy will receive the award for his extraordinary, selfless heroism and steadfast courage while leading a four-man, special reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines east of Asadabad in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan June 27 to 28, 2005.
“We are thrilled by the President’s announcement today, especially because there is now a public recognition of what we knew all along about Michael’s loyalty, devotion and sacrifice to his friends, family, country, and especially his SEAL teammates,” 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.”
Murphy was the officer-in-charge of the SEAL element, which was tasked with locating a high- level Taliban militia leader to provide intelligence for a follow-on mission to capture or destroy the local leadership and disrupt enemy activity. However local Taliban sympathizers discovered the SEAL unit and immediately revealed their position to Taliban fighters. The element was besieged on a mountaintop by scores of enemy fighters. The firefight that ensued pushed the element farther into enemy territory and left all four SEALs wounded.
The SEALs fought the enemy fearlessly despite being at a tactical disadvantage and outnumbered more than four to one. Understanding the gravity of the situation and his responsibility to his men, Murphy, already wounded, deliberately and unhesitatingly moved from cover into the open where he took and returned fire while transmitting a call for help for his beleaguered teammates. Shot through the back while radioing for help, Murphy completed his transmission while returning fire. The call ultimately led to the rescue of one severely wounded team member, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell, and the recovery of the remains of Murphy and Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny Dietz and Sonar Technician 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew Axelson.
Eight more SEALs and eight Army “Nightstalker” special operations personnel comprising the initial reinforcement also lost their lives when their helicopter was shot down before they could engage the enemy. The entire battle, the culmination of Operation Redwing, resulted in the worst single day loss of life for Naval Special Warfare personnel since World War II.
The sole surviving SEAL, Marcus Luttrell, wrote a book about the battle after he departed the Navy this summer. In his book Luttrell credited all three of his teammates for their heroism, including Murphy’s sacrificial act that eventually led to his rescue.
Murphy will be inducted into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon during a ceremony scheduled Oct. 23. His name will be engraved beside the names of some 3,400 other service members who have also been awarded the nation’s highest honor.
Awarded by the President in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor was created in 1861 as personal award of valor for members of the Navy. Soon thereafter another version was created for the Army and ultimately the Medal of Honor was presented to more than 1,500 Civil War veterans. Later the Air Force created its own unique Medal of Honor design. Marines and Coast Guardsmen are awarded the Navy’s version of the Medal of Honor.
http://www.floppingaces.net/2007/10/12/lt-michael-p-murphy-awarded-th/
Would also encourage people to read "The Lone Survivor" by Marcus Latrell. The most inspirational book I've ever read.
The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States.
Murphy’s father, Daniel, will accept the award on behalf of his son. Murphy will receive the award for his extraordinary, selfless heroism and steadfast courage while leading a four-man, special reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines east of Asadabad in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan June 27 to 28, 2005.
“We are thrilled by the President’s announcement today, especially because there is now a public recognition of what we knew all along about Michael’s loyalty, devotion and sacrifice to his friends, family, country, and especially his SEAL teammates,” 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.”
Murphy was the officer-in-charge of the SEAL element, which was tasked with locating a high- level Taliban militia leader to provide intelligence for a follow-on mission to capture or destroy the local leadership and disrupt enemy activity. However local Taliban sympathizers discovered the SEAL unit and immediately revealed their position to Taliban fighters. The element was besieged on a mountaintop by scores of enemy fighters. The firefight that ensued pushed the element farther into enemy territory and left all four SEALs wounded.
The SEALs fought the enemy fearlessly despite being at a tactical disadvantage and outnumbered more than four to one. Understanding the gravity of the situation and his responsibility to his men, Murphy, already wounded, deliberately and unhesitatingly moved from cover into the open where he took and returned fire while transmitting a call for help for his beleaguered teammates. Shot through the back while radioing for help, Murphy completed his transmission while returning fire. The call ultimately led to the rescue of one severely wounded team member, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell, and the recovery of the remains of Murphy and Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny Dietz and Sonar Technician 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew Axelson.
Eight more SEALs and eight Army “Nightstalker” special operations personnel comprising the initial reinforcement also lost their lives when their helicopter was shot down before they could engage the enemy. The entire battle, the culmination of Operation Redwing, resulted in the worst single day loss of life for Naval Special Warfare personnel since World War II.
The sole surviving SEAL, Marcus Luttrell, wrote a book about the battle after he departed the Navy this summer. In his book Luttrell credited all three of his teammates for their heroism, including Murphy’s sacrificial act that eventually led to his rescue.
Murphy will be inducted into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon during a ceremony scheduled Oct. 23. His name will be engraved beside the names of some 3,400 other service members who have also been awarded the nation’s highest honor.
Awarded by the President in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor was created in 1861 as personal award of valor for members of the Navy. Soon thereafter another version was created for the Army and ultimately the Medal of Honor was presented to more than 1,500 Civil War veterans. Later the Air Force created its own unique Medal of Honor design. Marines and Coast Guardsmen are awarded the Navy’s version of the Medal of Honor.
http://www.floppingaces.net/2007/10/12/lt-michael-p-murphy-awarded-th/
Would also encourage people to read "The Lone Survivor" by Marcus Latrell. The most inspirational book I've ever read.
And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
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I remember when I heard about this through a military friend, and found that one entire tiny paragraph hidden deep within the new york times referenced that this ever happened. I understand, as a 12 yr army vet the importance of special ops stuff being unscene and unheard of, but the country needs to understand what leaving no man behind truly means. I lot of others died not just in rescuing a few, but also recovering all bodies of the dead.
I have the book, it's the next one I'm reading after I finish one that's been at my house over a year that I'm finally reading, "the world is flat".
I think the more we understand the sacrifices of our military, the more we will stand up and ensure that if they are in harms way, it's necessary, and not an idiots whim.
Stop by:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14678777351&ref=mf
The point of this thread is not to be political. But I think the more we understand the sacrifices of amazing human beings such as this, the more likely we are to challenge ourselves...to believe there is something greater than our narcissistic selves....
to the whacko lib that responded about the movie...there SHOULD be a movie dedicated to this guy...there should be 10. but there won't be, because he wasn't obsessed with fame...and making a name for himself. that's the pathetic state of our culture...it's all about celebrity instead of the human spirit.
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
i'm a whacko lib? since when? becos i think iraq was a dumb waste of time? do you see how much time i spend ridiculing the libs and their 9/11 nonsense around here?
just saying it sounds like a bad ass movie and it only took them like a month to capitalize on that one chick's story for a tv movie... course, hers turned out to be made up.
i also find your hard on for all military action slightly amusing. almost as amusing as the libs' hard-ons for a good conspiracy theory.
it's a nice story, but it mainly makes me wonder if perhaps some of these guys might be at home and alive if we'd kept our sights on afghanistan like we should have instead of half-assing it to go putz around in iraq and leaving these guys without the resources and support they should have to flush those mountains out. i also think it is a story worth hearing if for not other reason than reminding americans we still have soldiers in there. too many seem to have forgotten where this all started.
you're an idiot. you really are.
do you even know where thy guy died?
this thread has nothing to do with iraq, but you are so absorbed with yourself you can't take a step back and say...damn..this is a great American.
again...you're a fucking tool with the blinders fully on. you obviously have no interest in a "dialogue" you don't even have an interest in understanding who this thread is about...you are all about giving the generic internet lib rant...google the name, read about him, then comeback with your witty remarks.
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Afghanistan.
Our lack of success and sufficient military and political support in Afghanistan has everything to do with the idiotic decision to go into Iraq to chase ghosts.
this thread is NOT about Iraq. the fact that it's turning into that says something about your lack of focus....it's about Lt. Mikey. period.
there's plenty of other threads out there for you.
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
and you're apparently really an illiterate. my post made clear i understood exactly where this happened. i only brought up iraq becos 1) it distracted from us doing a proper job in afghan which might be why these dudes got killed and 2) you seem to regard me as a whacko lib solely based on my iraq stance.
this thread is about our soldiers dying in afghanistan. asking if perhaps they are not being looked after and remembered as much as they deserve has everything to do with the topic at hand.
not a big reader, but do know it's because.
I regard you as a whacko lib, actually not really so, because there are lots of whacko libs here that I like...I regard you and Jeffbr as pathetic posters who want to twist a tribute to an amazing human being into something other than that.
we know, you hate iraq...wow...what a surprise. Why does a tribute to Mike Murphy have to degenerate into that? Again, there's an overabundance of threads here for that.
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Considering I made the thread...I'll say you're wrong...and the thread is about Lt. Mike Murphy.
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
indeed. i am the pathetic one. my idea of a tribute to a dead soldier is trying to ensure as few others have to die as possible. your idea of a tribute is to make an inane post on an internet message board that you know is thick with "whacko libs" in an effort to bait them. i'm sure his family is at home applauding your courage and grateful that you are out here fighting the good fight in their son's memory.
the forum is about debate. that means if you post about dead soldiers, you can expect debate on whether or not they should have died or if it was for a worthy cause. if you were looking for a nice big military circle jerk, you came to the wrong place. and seeing as you're not kat, nobody here gives a flying fuck what you want the thread to be about.
i post a thread about a medal of honor winner on a site where most people never heard of the guy (obviously including you)...no politics involved...just spreading the guys name, and humbling myself at this guys feet. you go off on a rant about God knows what...i'm not even sure why you are ranting and raving.
yeah, i'm guessing his family is going to side with me
again, aren't you people the one's interested in a dialogue? This is my perspective...sit down and listen...why be so judgemental?
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
now im the confused one. you just said you didn't want this to be a debate. now you're talking about how you want a non-judgmental dialogue and listening to your perspective... right after you claim to just be humbly spreading his name. which is it chief? dialogue involves back and forth. that's more than just sitting and passively soaking things up. it involves a back and forth.
sounds to me like classic politico-speak... i don't want dialogue or debate, i want you to shut up, listen to me, and agree with my perspective.
i admire his sacrifice. i hope i would prove myself as capable of courage under fire as him. but i also question if it was necessary for him to be in the position where he was forced into such acts of bravery. i've no doubt his family is proud of him and they should be. i've also little doubt they would like him to still be alive.
let's agree on that
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
we can. but i think it is disrespectful to his memory to leave it at that and risk further lives by not evaluating the nature of his death and attempting to avoid further losses in the future due to similar factors. that is just plain good sense in business, sports, war, and life. you learn from the past and attempt to do better in the future.
you're pathetic.
let's not agree.
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
what can we learn from lt. murphy's death conor?
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
what can we learn from it? personal sacrifice. doing good for your fellow man...believing that your own life is to serve others...believing that there is something greater than yourself.
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
then from that perspective lt. michael murphy is a better man than i am because i could never sacrifice my life for any other except my children because they are truly the only thing greater than myself.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
hopefully the co's will be evaluating the mission and working on ways to increase the odds of success in similar missions in the future. hopefully the generals are working on ways to ensure those helicopters and abckups get there faster in the future. hopefully the equipment suppliers are working on ways to make sure the guy doesn't have to walk out into open fire to transmit a call for help. hopefully joe politician is thinking about how to properly fund and allocate such military resources. and hopefully joe citizen is thinking about whether or not his/her politicians are exercising proper judgment in their decisions about military actions.
You are willing to sacrifice yourself for your children...that's not something to brush aside
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
but not as admirable as sacrificing yourself for your country. america is the best thing since sliced bread and way more important than any individual life could ever be.
oh i don't brush it aside.
and i can't say what i would have done in lt. murphy's situation but the thought of drawing enemy fire would have probably made me hesitate just that little bit too long. my heart goes out to his family and to the families of all those killed in afghanistan and all around the world in the name of war and famine and greed.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
my heart, and i'm sure i'll speak for yours, goes to those who do what is right, in the face of fear
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
even when not staring fear in the face.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
or even when doing so!
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
i was in agreeance with you. just clarifying my thoughts on the subject. i imagine tis a difficult thing to keep your head in such situations.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
i'm guessing you are really all about you...that's why you fail to see why this man is greater than you will ever be.
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days