NAVY LT MICHAEL P. MURPHY
Afghanistan War
Posted on 05/07/2008 6:05:19 PM PDT by Non-Sequitur
Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter announced on May 7 at a ceremony in Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y., the name of the newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will be USS Michael Murphy. Designated as DDG 112, the name honors Lt. Michael Murphy who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during Operation Red Wing, in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005.
"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," Winter said.
Michael Murphy's hometown of Patchogue, N.Y. held a dedication ceremony memorializing a park bearing Murphy's name. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Park contains a black granite wall dedicated to the men lost in Operation Red Wing with each member's name inscribed. In the center of the memorial, a black granite stone is embedded into the floor of the plaza bearing the picture of Murphy and his Medal of Honor.
A Navy SEAL, Murphy lead a four-man team tasked with finding a key Taliban leader in the mountainous terrain near Asadabad, Afghanistan, when they came under fire from a much larger enemy force with superior tactical position.
Mortally wounded while exposing himself to enemy fire, Murphy knowingly left his position of cover to get a clear signal in order to communicate with his headquarters. While being shot at repeatedly, Murphy calmly provided his unit's location and requested immediate support for his element. He returned to his cover position to continue the fight until finally succumbing to his wounds.
"Every Sailor who crosses the brow, every Sailor who hears the officer of the deck announce the arrival of the commanding officer, and every Sailor who enters a foreign land representing our great nation will do so as an honored member of USS Michael Murphy," Winter said.
USS Michael Murphy will be one of the U.S. Navy's most advanced, state-of-the-art warships in the fleet. With the combination of Aegis, the vertical launching system, and advanced anti-submarine warfare system, advanced anti-aircraft missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles, the Arleigh Burke-class continues the revolution at sea.
Utilizing a gas turbine propulsion system, USS Michael Murphy will be able to operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups, and underway replenishment groups.
USS Michael Murphy will be the 62nd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. She is 509.5 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, displaces approximately 9,200 tons, has a crew size of 323 (23 officers and 300 enlisted) and she will make speed in excess of 30 knots.
A great honor for a fantastic Sailor!!
Outstanding. What a great choice of names. Almost makes me want to join the Navy if I could be guaranteed to serve on her. Of course they’d have to shave a decade or two off the age requirement, amongst other things.
I’m proud to say that Murphy is a fellow Penn Stater. This is a fantastic choice.
Seal ping
Everytime I read about our brave soldiers exploits in combat it brings tears to my eyes.
I have read about this before, and each time it has the same result.
God bless our brave service men.
Everytime I read about our brave soldiers exploits in combat it brings tears to my eyes.
I have read about this before, and each time it has the same result.
God bless our brave service men.
Where do we get people like this, especially in this day and age of narcissistic ideals?
God Bless this brave man. His name will be on the lips of every crewman aboard that proud ship.
Sleep well Murph God has a special place for his best workers!
BUMP to that!
Excellent choice. My salutes to my Navy friends, brothers and sisters from a Zoomie.
Regards,
AR
What a fitting tribute to a Great Warrior.
Dear Lord, help me be the kind of citizen worthy of the sacrifice of these brave men and women in the service of our Nation.
A fitting honor to Lt. Murphy of Patchougue NY. The last Arleigh Burke-class destroyer will bear the name of a Navy SEAL awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Afghanistan.
Too bad this is set to be the final Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer.
thanks bump for later
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