Navy SEAL LT Michael P. Murphy

Local Hero, Michael Murphy, was born and raised on Long Island where he served as a Town of Brookhaven lifeguard at Lake Ronkonkoma. Michael graduated from Penn State University with Honors, and instead of attending Law School, joined the Navy SEALs.

He was 29 years old in June 2005, when he perished in a fierce firefight in mountainous terrain along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in Operation Red Wings.

He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.

LT Murphy also received:
The Silver Star
Purple Heart
Combat Action Ribbon
Afghanistan Campaign Medal

LT Murphy deployed to Afghanistan in April 2005. He was the leader of a four-man SEAL squad that secretly infiltrated into the 9,000 foot Hindu-Kush mountains along the Pakistan border on June 27th. The team was conducting a sensitive mission to capture or kill high-value Taliban target Ahmad Shah, known as Ismail, when ambushed by overwhelming Taliban forces. A fierce fight ensued.

For about 45 minutes, the men fought on, as ammunition ran low. Three SEALs were wounded by gunfire or rocket- propelled grenades. One screamed, “I’m hit!” Murphy yelled back, “We’re all hit! Keep moving!”

LT Murphy climbed to higher ground and into the open to make an electronic call for help. Despite his severe wounds, he completed the call and continued fighting, exhorting his men to escape while he held off their attackers.

A Quick Reaction Force immediately mobilized in a daring daytime mission to reinforce the SEAL squad.

Eight Navy SEALs and eight Army Night Stalker commandos perished when their MH-47 helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade and crash

Operation Red Wings was made famous in the movie
“Lone Survivor”

Lone Survivor is a 2013 American biographical war thriller film based on the 2007 non-fiction book of the same name by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson. The film dramatizes the unsuccessful United States Navy SEALs counter-insurgent mission Operation Red Wings. Lone Survivor stars Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, and Eric Bana.

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19 Brave Men Lost Their Lives

Navy SEALs
LT Michael P. Murphy
SO2 Matthew Axelson
SO2 Danny Dietz
SOC Jacques J. Fontan
SOCS Daniel R. Healy
LCDR Erik S. Kristensen
SO1 Jeffery A. Lucas
LT Michael M. McGreevy, Jr.
SO2 James E. Suh
SO1 Jeffrey S. Taylor
SO2 Shane E. Patton

160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment
SSG Shamus O. Goare
CWO3 Corey J. Goodnature
SGT Kip A. Jacoby
SFC Marcus V. Muralles
MSG James W. Ponder III
MAJ Stephen C. Reich
SFC Michael L. Russell
CWO4 Chris J. Scherkenbach

Navy Seal LT Michael P. Murphy Memorial