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Lt. Michael Patrick Murphy (May 7, 1976 – June 28, 2005) was a United States Navy SEAL posthumously awarded the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in 2005 during the War in Afghanistan. He was the first person to be awarded the medal for actions in Afghanistan; and the first member of the U.S. Navy to receive the award since the Vietnam War.
Michael Murphy was born and raised in Suffolk County, New York. After graduating from high school he went to Penn State, graduating with honors and dual degrees in both political science and psychology. After college he accepted a commission in the United States Navy and became a United States Navy SEAL in July 2002.
Murphy was sent on several missions while participating in the Global War on Terrorism and was killed on June 28, 2005 after his team was compromised and surrounded by Taliban forces near Asadabad, Afghanistan.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Murphy received other awards including the Silver Star and Purple Heart. Since his death, a United States Navy destroyer, a post office, a combat training pool at Naval Station Newport, and a park have been named in his honor.
Operation Red Wings
Operation Red Wings was a failed counter-insurgent mission in Kunar province, Afghanistan, involving four members of the United States Navy SEALs. Murphy and two other SEALs were killed in the fighting in addition to 16 American Special Operations Forces soldiers who were killed when their helicopter was shot down while attempting to extract the SEAL Team. Prior to a helicopter being shot down in 2011, it was both the largest loss of life for American forces since the invasion began and the largest loss for the SEALs since the Vietnam War. Marcus Luttrell was the only surviving American sailor from the squad; he was protected by local villagers who sent an emissary to the closest military base allowing a rescue team to locate him.
Murphy led the four-man reconnaissance team on a mission to kill or capture a top Taliban leader, Ahmad Shah (code name Ben Sharmak),who commanded a group of insurgents known as the "Mountain Tigers,"west of Asadabad.The group was dropped off by helicopter in a remote, mountainous area east of Asadabad in Kunar Province, near the Pakistan border. After an initially successful infiltration, local goat herders stumbled upon the SEALs' hiding place. Unable to verify any hostile intent from the herders,Murphy asked the team what should be done with them. Matthew Axelson reportedly voted to kill the Afghans, and Danny Dietz did not offer an opinion, causing Murphy to state that he would vote the same as Marcus Luttrell, who said the herders should be set free.Hostile locals, possibly the goat herders they let pass, alerted 150 to 200nearby Taliban forces, who surrounded and attacked the small group. After Murphy called for help, an MH-47 Chinook helicopter loaded with reinforcements was dispatched to rescue the team, but was shot down with an RPG, killing all 16 personnel aboard, including an additional eight SEALs and eight service members from the 160th SOAR.
By the end of the two-hour battle, approximately 35 of the Taliban soldiers,Murphy, Dietz, and Axelson were killed in the action.
Luttrell was the only American survivor and was eventually rescued after several days of wandering the mountain and being protected by the people of an Afghanistan village.All three of Murphy's men were awarded the Navy's second-highest honor, the Navy Cross, for their part in the battle making theirs the most decorated Navy SEAL team in history.
SEALs of Operation Redwing, Murphy is on the far right.
Michael Murphy was born and raised in Suffolk County, New York. After graduating from high school he went to Penn State, graduating with honors and dual degrees in both political science and psychology. After college he accepted a commission in the United States Navy and became a United States Navy SEAL in July 2002.
Murphy was sent on several missions while participating in the Global War on Terrorism and was killed on June 28, 2005 after his team was compromised and surrounded by Taliban forces near Asadabad, Afghanistan.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Murphy received other awards including the Silver Star and Purple Heart. Since his death, a United States Navy destroyer, a post office, a combat training pool at Naval Station Newport, and a park have been named in his honor.
Operation Red Wings
Operation Red Wings was a failed counter-insurgent mission in Kunar province, Afghanistan, involving four members of the United States Navy SEALs. Murphy and two other SEALs were killed in the fighting in addition to 16 American Special Operations Forces soldiers who were killed when their helicopter was shot down while attempting to extract the SEAL Team. Prior to a helicopter being shot down in 2011, it was both the largest loss of life for American forces since the invasion began and the largest loss for the SEALs since the Vietnam War. Marcus Luttrell was the only surviving American sailor from the squad; he was protected by local villagers who sent an emissary to the closest military base allowing a rescue team to locate him.
Murphy led the four-man reconnaissance team on a mission to kill or capture a top Taliban leader, Ahmad Shah (code name Ben Sharmak),who commanded a group of insurgents known as the "Mountain Tigers,"west of Asadabad.The group was dropped off by helicopter in a remote, mountainous area east of Asadabad in Kunar Province, near the Pakistan border. After an initially successful infiltration, local goat herders stumbled upon the SEALs' hiding place. Unable to verify any hostile intent from the herders,Murphy asked the team what should be done with them. Matthew Axelson reportedly voted to kill the Afghans, and Danny Dietz did not offer an opinion, causing Murphy to state that he would vote the same as Marcus Luttrell, who said the herders should be set free.Hostile locals, possibly the goat herders they let pass, alerted 150 to 200nearby Taliban forces, who surrounded and attacked the small group. After Murphy called for help, an MH-47 Chinook helicopter loaded with reinforcements was dispatched to rescue the team, but was shot down with an RPG, killing all 16 personnel aboard, including an additional eight SEALs and eight service members from the 160th SOAR.
By the end of the two-hour battle, approximately 35 of the Taliban soldiers,Murphy, Dietz, and Axelson were killed in the action.
Luttrell was the only American survivor and was eventually rescued after several days of wandering the mountain and being protected by the people of an Afghanistan village.All three of Murphy's men were awarded the Navy's second-highest honor, the Navy Cross, for their part in the battle making theirs the most decorated Navy SEAL team in history.
SEALs of Operation Redwing, Murphy is on the far right.