Today A Hero Is Honored In Washington

Today is the day the family of Michael Murphy, Navy Seal will receive his posthumous Medal of Honor regarding his service in Afghanistan that lead to his unit becoming trapped by 100 Taliban scum where he gave his life for his unit and country, calling in their coordinates saving one Seal's life. In spite of the heroics, that afternoon was sadly the worst loss of life in one day to the legendary Navy Seals since WWII.

A tragic day with many heroes lost, including 16 in the Chinook rescue helicopter called in by Lt Murphy.

Today belongs to he and his family, as well as his men lost that afternoon.

I have to say that the New York Times has been taking much heat for not writing or acknowledging this man and his achievement until now, but in todays paper they do have a good story related to the award ceremony and Lt. Murphy.

Whether or not this was simply a response to the tremendous heat or they were just holding it until today's ceremony as other papers have done, it is indeed there. I still consider it a leftist rag, but at least they honor this man today in this story linked below

A Protector as a Child, Honored as a Hero

New York Times Monday October 22nd In June 2005, Lt. Michael P. Murphy and three fellow members of the Navy Seals were on a mission in the mountains of Afghanistan when they were pinned down by a swarm of enemy fighters. Trapped in a steep ravine, they were unable to get a radio signal to call for help.

Lt. Michael P. Murphy chose the Navy over law school.

With the Americans suffering injuries, ammunition running low and roughly 100 Taliban fighters closing in, Lieutenant Murphy made a bold but fateful decision: He left the sheltering mountain rocks into an open area where he hoped to get a radio frequency.

He managed to make contact with Bagram Air Base, calling in his unit’s location and the size of the enemy force, even as he came under direct fire, according to a declassified Navy account of the battle.

He also was shot several times and died.

Today, President Bush will award Lieutenant Murphy, a team leader from Patchogue, the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award. Mr. Bush will present it to Lieutenant Murphy’s father and mother, Daniel and Maureen, in a ceremony scheduled to take place in the East Room.

Mr. Murphy said his son’s action in battle was typical of the sort of selflessness he displayed even as a child, recalling an episode when he got into a scrap with three bullies in middle school who tried to shove a disabled student in a locker.

“He just jumped in,” Mr. Murphy said, noting that it was the kind of action that led him and his former wife to refer to their oldest son as “the Protector” when he was a boy. “That was Michael’s way.” continued

Below is another story about the brave man lost who was piloting the Chinook helicopter that crashed in the rescue attempt, Sgt 1st Class, Michael Russell.

Medal has special meaning here:

Fredericksburg.com -"When Lee Russell watches the news tonight about a Navy SEAL getting the Medal of Honor, he'll remember all those who died in the same mission as the man being honored. His son, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Russell, was among them.

Michael Russell, who grew up in North Stafford, was in the Army's Special Forces and on the rescue team that tried to save Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy. Murphy and three others were on the ground, searching for a key Taliban leader in Afghanistan in 2005.

They were attacked by insurgents, and Murphy risked his life to help his fellow SEALs.

He managed to get into an open area and call for help--summoning Russell and other members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Russell's Chinook helicopter was shot down, killing all 16 on board.

Three of the four Navy SEALs on the ground died as well. 'There was a lot of heroism that day,' said Lee Russell, who lives in Fredericksburg. 'I'm glad and proud that at least one of them is getting the Medal of Honor.' The award, the nation's highest military award for valor in action, was to be presented today by President Bush to Murphy's parents at the White House. It's the first such award for a service member serving in Afghanistan." continued

---