SEAL of Honor (40 page)

Marcus Luttrell, Michael’s SEAL teammate and the lone survivor of Operation Red Wings, gave the following tribute to his friend: “If they built a statue of him as big as the Empire State Building, it would not be big enough for me.”

Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy’s character, compassion, determination, and leadership resulted in his receiving this nation’s Medal of Honor on earth and a place of honor serving in the Army of the Lord in the world eternal. His earthly legacy continues to grow.
Newsday
’s
Legacy.com
Web page for him continues to average two to three new posts per week from around the globe nearly four years after his death.

While political and military leaders change, our trust and commitment toward those who volunteer to wear this nation’s uniform must never change. All who put themselves into harm’s way in defense of freedom, as well as the families who endure their absence, deserve our unwavering gratitude and support. While we all cannot be Michael P. Murphy, we all can be patriots.

May God continue to comfort those of us who grieve, bless and watch over those who defend freedom, and continue to bless the United States of America.

G
asps broke the silence as the small group touring the legendary Bath Iron Works shipbuilding facility entered the cavernous Ultra Hall. Above them, towering nearly four stories high, was the name of their son, brother, grandson, and friend. “Michael Murphy” was emblazoned on the massive, 800-ton hull of what would soon become a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer.

The family knew, of course, that the name would be there. Aware of the project from its inception, they were present at the shipbuilding facility on June 18, 2010, for the keel-authentication ceremony for the ship named to forever memorialize the sacrifice of their son. The sheer astonishment and emotional impact of seeing his name across the hull of the ship, however, was something none of his family members had anticipated.

Michael’s parents, Dan and Maureen Murphy, and his brother John embraced. Maureen’s sister Eileen, Michael’s godmother, joined the embrace; their sobs broke the silence. Scott Kay, the guided-missile destroyer project manager for Bath Iron Works and the tour guide for the day, took that moment to compose himself as the family embraced. Although he had conducted many tours for the families of ships’ namesakes, the task never became any easier or less emotional for him.

Construction on the $170 million guided-missile destroyer
Michael Murphy
(DDG-112) began on September 7, 2007. During the dedication ceremony on May 7, 2008, Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter declared, “Michael Murphy’s name, which will be forever synonymous with astonishing courage under fire, will now be associated with one of the U.S. Navy’s most technologically advanced, most powerful, and most capable warships.”

The keel-authentication ceremony on June 18 was the first of what will be several emotional ceremonies in bringing the ship to life. During the ceremony the workers at Bath helped Dan and Maureen weld their initials in a steel plate that will become part of the ship. The initials of all nineteen of those killed in Operation
Red Wings also will be welded into the keel plate as a lasting tribute to their service and sacrifice.

The anticipated christening is currently set for May 7, 2011, on what would have been Murphy’s thirty-fifth birthday. The commissioning is tentatively scheduled for June 28, 2012, in New York Harbor. The USS
Michael Murphy
will be the seventh destroyer and the fortieth Navy ship named to commemorate a Medal of Honor recipient. Although its fleet assignment has yet to be determined, the destroyer and its 23 officers and 250 enlisted personnel likely will be home ported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, home of Murphy’s unit, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team-1.

APPENDIX

T
here are several organizations and agencies that provide valuable, thoughtful, and helpful assistance to the families of U.S. Navy SEALS and other American military personnel who have been seriously wounded or killed in action or training.

The foundation was formed by Michael Murphy’s parents, Daniel and Maureen, and his brother, John, in August 2005. It was given New York Department of Education approval on August 3, 2005, and incorporated in New York on August 11, 2005, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with the expressed written purpose of providing academic scholarships. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) granted the foundation tax-exempt status on May 4, 2006 (EID # 16-1730124).

The original board of directors consisted of Daniel J. Murphy, Maureen T. Murphy, and John D. Murphy. Since that time, three additional directors have been added: Mike’s best friend, Owen O’Callaghan, a New York City firefighter, and his cousins Catherine Jones and Kristen Bishop.

The foundation provides four scholarships. Two are given through the Patchogue-Medford High School, one through the Suffolk Federal Credit Union and the Long Island Credit Union League to a Suffolk County resident, and one through the Military Order of the Purple Heart in Washington, D.C., to a combatwounded veteran or the child of a Purple Heart recipient. Other organizations that support the foundation include the Suffolk County Prosecutor’s Association, through its annual golf outing; the Long Island Council of Credit Unions; and the Chicago Title Insurance Company. Many other individuals and organizations honor Michael with their donations as well. The foundation in turn also actively supports the Navy SEAL Warrior Fund and the Naval Special Warfare Foundation.
To assist in its work and to perpetuate the growing legacy of Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy and his selfless dedication to public service, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this work and any derivatives will be donated to the foundation to further expand its charitable work.

In addition, the foundation lends Michael’s name to numerous fund-raising events in support of the Navy SEAL Warrior Fund, the Naval Special Warfare Foundation, and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

All donations receive a written acknowledgment and may be sent to:

Governed by a board of directors, the Navy SEAL Warrior Fund is also a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization (tax ID # 20-2827819; Combined Federal Campaign/ CFC # 11454) established to raise funds in support of families of U.S. Navy SEALs who have died while serving our country, or who are presently serving in harm’s way in trouble spots around the world. The organization, comprised of volunteers from around the country, has no paid employees. All funds raised, after expenses, are used to improve the education, health, and wellness of spouses and children of deceased and active-duty SEALs. The Navy SEAL Warrior Fund is also the largest fund-raising organization for the Naval Special Warfare Foundation.

Contributions may be made to:

To provide educational and motivational support, promote health and welfare programs for the Naval Special Warfare community, and perpetuate the history and heritage of the U.S. naval commandos, the NSWF was incorporated in 2000 as a National Non-Profit Charitable Corporation (tax ID # 31-1728910; CFC # 11454). The NSWF provides multiple scholarship opportunities to dependent children and spouses of active-duty SEALs or SWCC (Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen) and other active-duty military personnel currently serving in NSW commands.

The NSWF also provides computers to the surviving children of Naval Special Warfare personnel killed in training or combat. The program helps ensure that the children are provided one of the basic resources they will need to help them excel in their education. The NSWF also provides numerous health and welfare programs for the Naval Special Warfare community. The NSWF provides airfare so that family members may be present at their loved one’s memorial service and pays for hotel rooms for the family. It organizes a food delivery service for bereaved families that provides them with baskets of necessities often overlooked during stressful times. Additionally, NSWF also provides free financial counseling to widows.

If you would like to make a contribution, the Naval Special Warfare Foundation Web site (
www.nswfoundation.org/donate.htm
) has a downloadable donation form. Donations may also be made over the phone by calling 1-757-363-7490 or by mail to:

I
t is clearly evident that the level of detail contained in this book came from eyewitnesses directly involved in Operation Red Wings, the rescue effort, and the recovery of the fallen. In some cases pseudonyms were used to protect both them and their families. While their true identities may have been disguised, they know who they are.

Representatives of Naval Special Warfare and the Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) reviewed the manuscript to ensure accuracy. Many individual members of these organizations sacrificed precious moments of their free time from hazardous duty around the globe to assist with this effort.

Tape recordings of interviews by the author and his discussions with various individuals, written and electronic communications, and other miscellaneous unpublished documents used as source material in the preparation of this book are in the possession of the author.

 

Alvarez, Heath. Personal Web site.
www.heathalvarez.com
(accessed January 3-19, 2009).

Axelson, Cordell. Discussion with author, July 28-29, 2008.

Axelson, Donna. Discussion with author, July 28-29, 2008.

Bisset, Andrew. Interview by author, June 6, 2008.

———. Electronic communications with author, May 9, 2008-October 30, 2009.

Bogenshutz, Maureen. E-mail communication to author, March 5, 2009.

Bonelli, Garry J. Discussion with author, July 28-29, 2008.

Bradley, Myron [pseud.]. Interview by author, October 22, 2008.

———. E-mail communications with author, July 5-6, September 3-12, 2008.

Commander, Navy Region, Mid-Atlantic.
Casualty Assistance Calls Officer Guide
. N.p: Bureau of Naval Personnel, n.d. Commander, Navy Region, Mid-Atlantic.
www.cnrma.navy.mil
.

Couch, Dick.
The Finishing School: Earning the Navy SEAL Trident
. New York: Crown, 2004.

———.
The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class 228.
New York: Three Rivers Press, 2003.

Coyle, Robert. Electronic communications with author, June 6-8, 2008.

DeGhetto, Todd. Interview by author, March 16, 2009.

Dietz, Maria. Discussion with author, July 28-29, 2008.

Easter, Chad [pseud.]. Interview by author, October 16, 2008.

Emmerich, James. Discussion with author, October 30, 2008.

Evans, Nathan. Discussion with author, November 1, 2008.

———. E-mail communications with author, November 6, 2008, January 5, 2009.

Furio, Nannette. Discussion with author, October 31, 2008.

———. E-mail communications with author. November 3, 25, 2008.

Geisen, Gregory. E-mail communications with author, June 4, 2008-September 30, 2009.

Goare, Judy. E-mail communications with author, December 5-7, 2008.

Goodnature, Lori. Discussions with author, July 28-29, 2008.

Haffele, Andrew. E-mail communication to author, January 31, 2009.

———. Interview by author, January 30, 2009.

Healy, Natalie. Discussion with author, July 28-29, 2008.

———. E-mail communication to author, July 28, 2008.

Hernandez, Mark [pseud.]. Discussion with author, July 28-29, 2008.

———. E-mail communications with author, October 5-7, 2008.

———. Interview by author, October 5, 2008.

Kernan, Joseph D. Discussions with author, May 6-7, July 28-29, 2008.

Kristensen, Edward. Discussion with author, October 30, 2008.

Kristensen, Suzanne. Discussion with author, October 30, 2008.

Lasky, Larry. Discussion with author, July 28-29, 2008.

———. E-mail communications with author, July 7-15, 2008.

Luttrell, Marcus.
Lone Survivor: The Eye witness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team Ten
. New York: Little, Brown, 2007.

Martin, Michael. Discussion with author, May 7, 2008.

———. E-mail communication to author, September 4, 2008.

———. Interview by author, May 20, 2008.

McCain, John.
Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life
. New York: Random House, 2004.

McCombie, Ryan. Discussion with author, October 28, 2008.

———. E-mail communications with author, November 3-6, 2008.

McElhone, Eddie. Discussion with author, October 30, 2008.

McKenna, Sharon. E-mail communication to author, September 27, 2008.

Murphy, Daniel. Discussions with author, May 2008-December 2009.

———. E-mail communications with author, May 5, 2008-October 30, 2009.

———. Interviews by author, May 20, 2008, January 4, February 19, April 13, 2009.

Murphy, John. E-mail communication to author, October 3, 2008.

———. Interview by author, April 10, 2009.

Murphy, Karen. Discussions with author, October 26-November 2, 2008.

Murphy, Maureen. E-mail communications with author, May 5, 2008-October 15, 2009.

———. Interviews by author, May 28, 2008, January 14, February 11, 2009.