VALIANT WARRIOR'S EXPLOITS DWARF GREEK TRAGEDY (Lt Murphy)

NY Post ^ | 23 Oct 07 | Steve Dunleavy

[SkyPilot]

From the moment he read "Gates of Fire" until a fanatic's bullet slammed into his back, "Murph" lived the life.

The book told the story of the battle of Thermopylae - about how a force of 300 Spartans was slaughtered for standing against 200,000 invading Persians.

_______snip________

In that moment, under three dazzling chandeliers in the East Room of the White House, I suddenly wished that the beautiful ceremony had been held in the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Not to make a spectacle, but just so every one of those Hollywood bums who spew out idiocy to demoralize our troops could hear what a real American was made of.

Bruce Springsteen, the latest Bush-basher, might have been "born in the USA." And he can keep living in freedom in the USA because of the blood, guts and sacrifice of men like Murph.

[SkyPilot]

_{U.S. President George W. Bush (R) presents the Medal of Honor to Maureen and Daniel Murphy, the parents of Navy Lt. Michael Murphy, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, October 22, 2007. Murphy received the medal posthumously for his action in combat while leading a special reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines in Afghanistan.}

Lt. Murphy's parent gave President Bush a dogtag with Murphy's name on it minutes before the ceremony.

President Bush loosened his tie, unbuttoned his shirt, and hung the dogtag and chain around his chest before the ceremony.

[SkyPilot]

ping

[Condor51]

The book told the story of the battle of Thermopylae - about how a force of 300 Spartans was slaughtered for standing against 200,000 invading Persians.

The battle of Thermopylae is also where Sparta's King Leonidas spoke those now famous two words in response to the Persians demand to lay down their arms and surrender.

The words -- Molôn Labé!
(Come and take them)

[MattinNJ]

I recommend Gates of Fire and Lone Survivor to everyone.

[SkyPilot]

I intend to read Lone Survivor.

It is interesting that Lt. Murphy read Gates of Fire years before the movie "300" was even filmed and became a popular book in modern culture.

[SkyPilot]

I love this part of Dunleavy's article:

Asked about the vitriolic gibes by the lefties, Dan Murphy said, "I don't think they speak for America." No, America speaks for a small bunch of lonely men on a hostile mountain with bullets crashing around them, blood oozing from wounds, and fighting off a horde of fanatics so Hollywood and their ilk can live in their castles of cowardice.

[Scotsman will be Free]

Isn’t that also where one of his men made a comment about the number of Persian arrows that were in the air? Something along the lines that there were so many arrows in the air that they blocked out the sun. The King replied “Good! Then we will fight in the shade.”

[ArrogantBustard]

Asked about the vitriolic gibes by the lefties, Dan Murphy said, "I don't think they speak for America."

I don't think so either, Mr. Murphy. Not the America I know, and love, and live in. To us, your son IS a hero ... and an inspiration ... and we thank you very much for bringing him into the world.

[iopscusa]

Great quote that deserves repeating again and again:
“America speaks for a small bunch of lonely men on a hostile mountain with bullets crashing around them, blood oozing from wounds, and fighting off a horde of fanatics so Hollywood and their ilk can live in their castles of cowardice...but there are Murphs of this world who know that life can be very fragile at the “Gates of Fire” - but it’s a more honorable place to be”

[SkyPilot]

Yup.

Dienekes (Greek: Διηνέκης) (died 480 BC) was a Spartan officer present at the Battle of Thermopylae. He was acclaimed the bravest of all the three hundred Spartiates selected to fight in that battle. Herodotus related the following anecdote about Dienekes: "Although extraordinary valor was displayed by the entire corps of Spartans and Thespaians, yet bravest of all was declared the Spartan Dienekes. It is said that on the eve of battle, he was told by a native of Trachis that the Persian archers were so numerous that, their arrows would blot out the sun. Dienekes, however, undaunted by this prospect, remarked with a laugh, 'Good. Then we will fight in the shade'" - Histories, 7.226

[IronJack]

a force of 300 Spartans was slaughtered for standing against 200,000 invading Persians.

The Spartans at Thermopylae were courageous, to be sure. But the Persian army was at most a tenth that size. And the defenders were not alone; they were accompanied by Thespians who exhibited the same epic courage.

None of which does one whit to diminish this story ...

[steel_resolve]

America speaks for a small bunch of lonely men on a hostile mountain with bullets crashing around them, blood oozing from wounds, and fighting off a horde of fanatics so Hollywood and their ilk can live in their castles of cowardice.

Hear hear....

[Sword_Svalbardt]

The sad thing is hollywood declines to bear the burden, instead they have become the burden.

Fair winds and following seas, brother. Not only did you earn your trident and flintlock, you paid for it dearly.

Leadership by example folks, it’s about sacrifice.

S_S

[isrul]

The fact that these SEALS let those goat herders go is not a good thing. This act of self righteous compassion not only killed three of the four SEALS, but also cost the lives of 16 more Americans who tried to help them.

[dennisw]

What I say to Murph and his family is remain in light and I know you will. You are protected by God.

What nice photos!

[SkyPilot]

They are nice photos. The Murphy family are just wonderful, and handsome Americans of Irish descent.

His fiance was just gorgeous. I know God is with her and comforting her.

Lt. Murphy's father was on WPHT 1210 AM here in the NY-NJ-PA market. He was such a class act.

[SkyPilot]

The fact that these SEALS let those goat herders go is not a good thing. This act of self righteous compassion not only killed three of the four SEALS, but also cost the lives of 16 more Americans who tried to help them.

First of all, I love your tag line about that bible verse. May I repeat it here?

Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, Our houses to aliens.

As the ancient Jews found out when they disobeyed God, so it applies to us as well.

Anyway, there is a great debate about the SEALs actions. I was not Special Forces, just an Air Force pilot - so I don't know the rules of engagement there, but I suspect they were told to act cautiously. That caution did end up taking their lives.

The lone survivor of that battle was on the radio here, and the host asked him if they felt they could have been brought up on "war crime" charges had they killed "civilians." He didn't answer directly, but you could read between the lines and know they felt this way.

Can you imagine the headline in the treasonous NY Slimes?

US Navy SEALs Slaughter Innocent Civilian Goat Herders

[dennisw]

Yeah I’ve haerd Marcus Latrell a few times

[Rocky Mountain High]

Always easy to be an armchair quarterback, isn’t it?

[SkyPilot]

I feel the same frustration too. Those men acted in a noble fashion - they could have blown away the goat herders in an instant.

But, to do so would have invited scandal, murder charges, and an international condemnation.

Where is the international applause because they acted with restraint?

There won't be any. The world has gone wicked - it has abandoned God. But God will be heard.