Politics & Government
Destroyer Named for Fallen SEAL Michael Murphy Commissioned
The Saturday ceremony honored the 29-year-old who died when he took fire in Afghanistan while making a phone call seeking help for his trapped team.
A ship named for Medal of Honor winner Lt. Michael P. Murphy, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2005, was commissioned Saturday in New York. to be webcast live.
According to Navy.mil, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus spoke in honor of Murphy, 29, a Long Island native, while the Navy SEAL's mother Maureen was the ship's sponsor.
“This ship honors the courage, service and sacrifice of Lt. Michael Murphy, his Red Wings brothers, fellow SEALs, special operators and service members around the world who answer the call of duty every day,” Mabus said.
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Cmdr. Thomas E. Shultz, an El Cajon native, is the commanding officer of the ship, which has a crew of 279 officers and enlisted personnel.
Medford Patch has a gallery of photos of the new destroyer.
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The Associated Press, via Huffington Post, reports on Murphy, how he died, and the number of honors he's received. Rear Adm. Garry Bonelli of Naval Special Warfare, took part in a memorial service for Murphy this week.
“Michael Murphy is a hero in our community. He's a hero in our Navy,” Bonelli said, according to AP. “But what's tremendous about having a ship named after him is his legacy will live on forever.”
The USS Michael Murphy was built by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Maine. The ship:
- weighs 9,200 tons,
- is 509 feet in length, and
- can reach speeds in excess of 30 knots.
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