june united_states navy seal officer awarded military highest decoration medal honor actions war afghanistan member receive award vietnam war posthumous awards include later upgraded medal honor purple heart born raised new_york graduated honors dual degrees political science psychology college accepted commission united_states navy united_states navy seal july participating war terrorism missions killed june team compromised surrounded forces near afghanistan united_states_navy destroyer civilian military buildings named honor early life education murphy born new_york irish american parents assistant district attorney raised attended played youth soccer football father coach high school continued playing sports took summer job town beach returned job summer college years murphy known friends known protector high school years 8th grade protected special needs child locker group boys time principal school called parents couldn protected homeless man attacked collecting cans chased away attackers helped man pick cans murphy graduated left home attend penn state graduated degrees political science psychology murphy engaged married ceremony scheduled november career graduating murphy accepted law schools decided attend seal sessions united_states merchant marine academy september accepted appointment pensacola florida december year commissioned ensign navy began basic underwater demolition seal training california january eventually graduating class graduation attended seal qualification training seal delivery vehicle school murphy earned seal checked board hawaii july october deployed platoon jordan liaison officer following tour murphy assigned florida deployed support operation iraqi freedom returning deployed assist operational planning future missions combat afghanistan operation enduring freedom official war afghanistan smaller military actions umbrella global war terrorism war began october response united_states united_kingdom september attacks new_york_city arlington virginia early murphy assigned seal delivery vehicle team officer charge alpha platoon deployed afghanistan support operation enduring freedom counter mission afghanistan involving members united_states navy seals murphy seals killed fighting addition soldiers killed helicopter shot attempting extract prior helicopter shot largest loss life american forces invasion began largest loss seals vietnam war surviving american sailor squad protected local villagers sent closest military base allowing rescue team locate murphy led man reconnaissance team mission kill capture leader code commanded group insurgents known mountain tigers west team dropped helicopter remote mountainous area east near pakistan border initially successful local goat seals hiding place unable verify hostile intent team cut loose hostile locals possibly goat let pass alerted nearby forces surrounded attacked small group murphy called help helicopter loaded reinforcements dispatched rescue team shot rpg killing personnel aboard seals service members murphy killed action american survivor eventually rescued days wandering mountain protected people village murphy men awarded navy second highest honor battle making theirs decorated navy seal team history death murphy killed june exposing enemy fire leaving position cover clear signal order communicate headquarters provided unit location requested immediate support element returned position continue fighting died wounds july murphy remains found group american soldiers combat search rescue operation returned united_states days later july murphy buried military honors new_york section grave miles childhood home awards decorations murphy military awards include medal honor october white_house announced murphy presented medal honor awarded posthumously ceremony white house october medal honor highest military decoration awarded united_states government bestowed member armed forces distinguishes gallantry risk life duty engaged action enemy united_states nature award commonly presented posthumously october medal honor presentation ceremony held white house president presented murphy medal honor parents citation conspicuous gallantry risk life duty leader special reconnaissance element naval special warfare task unit afghanistan june leading mission locate high level anti coalition militia leader demonstrated extraordinary heroism face grave danger vicinity afghanistan june operating extremely rugged enemy controlled area team discovered anti coalition militia revealed position fighters result enemy fighters besieged member team demonstrating exceptional resolve led men engaging large enemy force ensuing fierce resulted numerous enemy casualties wounding members team ignoring wounds demonstrating exceptional continued lead encourage men primary fell mortally wounded repeatedly attempted assistance teammates realizing communicating extreme terrain face certain death fought way open terrain gain better position transmit deliberate heroic act deprived cover exposing direct enemy fire finally achieving contact headquarters maintained exposed position provided location requested immediate support team final act bravery continued engage enemy mortally wounded giving life country cause freedom leadership reflected great credit upheld highest traditions legacy military career murphy received different military decorations including medal honor navy medal death post office home town park guided missile destroyer uss michael murphy named honor addition medal honor military awards inscription hall heroes pentagon murphy received honors penn state class senior gift memorial named commemorate veterans served united_states wall memorial inscribed greek phrase meaning shield referencing ancient tradition warrior came home battle shield victory dead carried home shield defeat memorial park 30th birthday murphy hometown dedicated park contains black granite wall dedicated men lost member inscribed black granite stone embedded plaza bears picture murphy medal honor lieutenant united states post office lieutenant united dedicated new_york request historic located new_york submitted bill january approved request august signed president public law facility located new_york shall known designated lieutenant post office building secretary navy announced planned destroyer time named honor murphy murphy 35th birthday uss michael murphy christened mother ship sponsor combat training pool july newly constructed naval station newport rhode_island dedicated honor murphy pool shaped lane pool holds approximately gallons water training pool training platform meters water military training abandon ship drills etc recognizes achievement graduate student serving served demonstrated exceptional contributions discipline award possible gifts award endowed given murphy november announced senior gift murphy alma mater class plaza honor veterans medal honor recipient murphy long_island medal honor recipients memorial plaque new_york maintains memorial plaque names medal honor recipients lived long_island murphy placed honor memorial shortly awarded medal honor honored include president general murphy fellow hero memorial end hospital lobby close proximity mother works hospital high school campus april new_york named campus navy seal fallen pupil unit unit new_york named hosted sponsored events honor murphy fort hamilton memorial wall fort hamilton main lobby memorial wall dedicated murphy distinguished council united_states awards distinguished award honors living non active duty citizens character commitment country community named michael honor performed boxes country memorial day named time mile run pull ups push ups mile choose wear body vest weighing mike favorites named body armor media film murphy portrayed actor
Michael P. Murphy