Afghanistan War Medal of Honor Recipient. A United States Navy SEAL commando, he was awarded the CMOH for his bravery along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on June 28, 2005. He led a four-man special reconnaissance unit that was secreted into the Hindu Kush mountains along the border, and was reported to have been trailing a high-ranking terror leader near 10,000-foot peaks when they were ambushed and overrun by scores of insurgent fighters. His citation reads: "Michael Murphy and three fellow SEALs were searching for a terrorist in the Afghan mountains on June 28, 2005, when their mission was compromised after they were spotted by locals, who presumably reported their presence and location to the Taliban. A fierce firefight ensued, with more than 50 anti-coalition militia firing on the outnumbered SEALs. Despite the intensity of the firefight, Murphy, already wounded, is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his comrades by moving into the open for a better position to transmit a call for help. While still under fire, Murphy provided his unit's location and the size of the enemy force. At one point, he was shot in the back, causing him to drop the transmitter. Murphy picked it back up, completed the call and continued firing at the enemy who was closing in. Murphy then returned to his cover position with his men and continued the battle. By the end of the two-hour gunfight, Murphy and two of his comrades were dead. An estimated 35 Taliban were also killed. The fourth member of their team managed to escape and was protected by local villagers for several days before he was rescued." Lt. Murphy's medal was posthumously awarded to his family at the White House by President George W. Bush on October 22, 2007.
Afghanistan War Medal of Honor Recipient. A United States Navy SEAL commando, he was awarded the CMOH for his bravery along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on June 28, 2005. He led a four-man special reconnaissance unit that was secreted into the Hindu Kush mountains along the border, and was reported to have been trailing a high-ranking terror leader near 10,000-foot peaks when they were ambushed and overrun by scores of insurgent fighters. His citation reads: "Michael Murphy and three fellow SEALs were searching for a terrorist in the Afghan mountains on June 28, 2005, when their mission was compromised after they were spotted by locals, who presumably reported their presence and location to the Taliban. A fierce firefight ensued, with more than 50 anti-coalition militia firing on the outnumbered SEALs. Despite the intensity of the firefight, Murphy, already wounded, is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his comrades by moving into the open for a better position to transmit a call for help. While still under fire, Murphy provided his unit's location and the size of the enemy force. At one point, he was shot in the back, causing him to drop the transmitter. Murphy picked it back up, completed the call and continued firing at the enemy who was closing in. Murphy then returned to his cover position with his men and continued the battle. By the end of the two-hour gunfight, Murphy and two of his comrades were dead. An estimated 35 Taliban were also killed. The fourth member of their team managed to escape and was protected by local villagers for several days before he was rescued." Lt. Murphy's medal was posthumously awarded to his family at the White House by President George W. Bush on October 22, 2007.
Bio by: Elizabeth Reed
Inscription
MEDAL OF HONOR
LT US NAVY
AFGHANISTAN
SILVER STAR
PURPLE HEART
OUR HERO
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See more Murphy memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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Web: Congressional Medal of Honor Society Recipients, 1839 - 2012
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U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847-Current
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U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
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U.S., Veterans' Gravesites, ca.1775-2019
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U.S., Casualties From Iraq and Afghanistan Conflicts, 2001-2012
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