Posted on 05/04/2007 7:26:46 PM PDT by SevenMinusOne
The actions taken by Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy, have placed him in consideration, posthumously, for the Congressional Medal of Honor -- the United States' highest military award.
On a June afternoon in 2005, Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy lay in hiding on the side of a ridge in the lawless eastern mountains of Afghanistan.
He carried little with him in the thin alpine air near Pakistan's border. A rifle. Clips of ammunition. Sophisticated communications and surveillance equipment. Some high-energy food.
There were three U.S. commandos hiding with him on that mountain, all, like him, members of one of the most elite and secretive units in the U.S. military, the Navy SEALs. A tall Texan who was a karate expert, whose brother and father were SEALs. A scratch golfer from Northern California known as "a perfect sniper." And a communications expert from Colorado who was so determined to be a SEAL he enlisted three weeks out of high school.
They had only each other to rely on; help was miles away, if it could get there at all at elevations soaring to 10,000 feet.
The mission Murphy and his men were assigned was a daunting one. A high-ranking jihadist leader, identified by the Naval Special Warfare Command as Ahmad Shah, was thought to be in the area, guarded by scores of heavily armed Taliban fighters.
The mountain's deep, rocky ravines and steep, forested sides gave the terror leader perfect cover. Sending a noisy force of several hundred soldiers would be pointless. It would be too easy for the target to meld into the local population, or to disappear along any of dozens of unmapped trails that would take him back over the Pakistan border.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
When most of the details are released about the entire fight, it will be recorded as one of the most courageous demonstrations of American warriors in our nation's history.
These SEALs where vastly out numbered, in deep, deep enemy territory, high in the mountains.....and fought a ferocious firefight that lasted several hours....
SOCOM Ping
(I know that bugs me more than it should.)
God rest, bro.
At least they said “rifle” and not “gun”...
We will hopefully have another MOH winner announced
Although, I also say MOH winner, it's more like awarded or earned.
Armed gunmen, who videotaped themselves looting watches, weapons, boots and electronic equipment that they say were from the bodies of Axelson, Dietz and Murphy in a scene that was posted on YouTube — came to the village to demand custody of Luttrell. But following their own local code of ethics and tradition, which require villagers to offer sanctuary to anyone who is in danger, whether friend or enemy or stranger, the villagers told the gunmen they’d have to kill all the men in the village before they’d turn the American over.
They later smuggled a note written by Luttrell to U.S. troops stationed at Asadabad across the mountain range.
11 SEALS were KIA in this mission and 8 “Army Commandos”...RIP American Heroes.
I remember the mission when it happened. I recall that it was said back in 2005 that the SEALs got separated. In the end, it was one brave and courageous man, alone in enemy territory. I thought that was amazing.
Confirms what I thought at the time this happened they WERE hunting a HVT.
Recipient
Agreed.
My "winner" comment is meant for a few lurkers.....nothing more...
"Earned" or "a recipient of" is the correct choice of verbiage for those I was not speaking to....
SEAL Lt Mike Murphy: thankyou for your Service!
From DownUnder
*DieHard*
Great story about a great hero.
Pray for W and Our Navy Seals
I picture a high altitude mountain ridge, all rock, almost no cover or concealment and the platoon strength enemy firing from well placed positions. Bullets in a swarm. No chance of survival. Surrender not contemplated.
Fine American men. A shame to lose them.
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