Posted on 10/22/2007 11:02:53 AM PDT by xsrdx
WASHINGTON - The first Medal of Honor awarded for combat in Afghanistan will be presented today to the family of a Navy SEAL from Long Island, who gave his life to make a radio call for help for his team.
President Bush was to present the nation's highest military honor for valor on Monday to the family of Lt. Michael Murphy of Patchogue, N.Y.
"There's a lot of awards in the military, but when you see a Medal of Honor, you know whatever they went through is pretty horrible. You don't congratulate anyone when you see it," said Marcus Luttrell, the lone member of Murphy's team to survive the firefight with the Taliban.
Murphy, Luttrell and two other SEALs were searching for a terrorist in the Afghan mountains on June 28, 2005, when their mission was compromised after they were spotted by locals, who presumably alerted the Taliban to their presence.
An intense gun battle ensued, with more than 50 anti-coalition fighters swarming around the outnumbered SEALs.
Although wounded, Murphy is credited with risking his own life by moving into the open for a better position to transmit a call for help.
Still under fire, Murphy provided his unit's location and the size of the enemy force. At one point he was shot in the back, causing him to drop the transmitter. Murphy picked it back up, completed the call and continued firing at the enemy who was closing in.
He then returned to his cover position with his men and continued the battle. A U.S. helicopter sent to rescue the men was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, killing all 16 aboard.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
“President Bush was to present...”
Nice choice of words, MSNBC!! Like the President was going to present the CMOH but changed his mind!!!
Anything to slam President Bush!!!
God Bless Mike Murphy, his fiancee, his parents and his brother, all his teammates, and all in the US military. We can never repay what they do for us each day. We can only be there when they need us.
SEAL bump
In journalism if the event has YET to take place you say, “was to” as this instance pertains to.
Signed — Navy Photojournalism & Weapons Technician Veteran
((But I understand your distaste with the media. “They”(the media) are/is what is wrong with our beautiful country.))
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