CrossFit is very big in honoring our heros. The whole premise behind CrossFit was for military, fire and police personel to have a quick workout that engaged their whole bodies. Since CrossFit began there have been many (too many) that have fallen in the line of duty and CrossFit recognizes these heros in the Hero WODs. Usually picking the persons favorite WOD and naming it for them.
Since Monday was Veterans Day, it was a guarantee that there would be a Hero WOD. 'MURPH' named in memory of Navy Lt. Michael Murphy was the challenge that I faced for the day and it was a big one.
The WOD:
1 mile Run
100 Pull-ups
200 Push-ups
300 Squats
1 mile Run
Since I am still somewhat of a beginner, my coach allowed me to scale back:
1 mile Run
50 Pull-ups
100 Push-ups
200 Squats
1 mile Run
My time for 'MURPH' was 43:51 and the entire time I was WODing, all I could think of was who I was WODing for and what he had sacrificed to be recognized as a HERO. I am thankful every day for what our military does to protect our freedom and will support all that put their life at risk for our safety.
Every time there is a HERO WOD, I will do my best to not complain and put forth the best effort that I can. And afterwords, I will research their story and put a face to a name as it is that much more meaningful to know who was lost.
Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy
United States Navy (SEAL)
May 7, 1976 - June 28, 2005
United States Navy (SEAL)
May 7, 1976 - June 28, 2005
(Biography from the US Navy Medal of Honor website)
 | |||
| Navy Lt. Michael Murphy |
Murphy grew up active in
sports and attended Patchogue's Saxton Middle School. In high school,
Murphy took a summer lifeguard job at the Brookhaven town beach in Lake
Ronkonkoma -- a job he returned to each summer through his college
years. Murphy graduated from Patchogue-Medford High School in 1994.
Murphy attended Penn State
University, where he was an exceptional all-around athlete and student,
excelling at ice hockey and graduating with honors. He was an avid
reader; his reading tastes ranged from the Greek historian Herodotus to
Tolstoy's "War and Peace." Murphy's favorite book was Steven
Pressfield’s “Gates of Fire,” about the Spartan stand at Thermopylae. In
1998, he graduated with a pair of Bachelor of Arts degrees from Penn
State -- in political science and psychology.
Following graduation, he was
accepted to several law schools, but instead he changed course.
Slightly built at 5 feet 10 inches, Murphy decided to attend SEAL
mentoring sessions at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point
with his sights on becoming a U.S. Navy SEAL. Murphy accepted an
appointment to the Navy's Officer Candidate School at Pensacola, Fla.,
in September, 2000.
Murphy was commissioned as an
ensign in the Navy on Dec. 13, 2000, and began Basic Underwater
Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, Calif., in January 2001,
graduating with Class 236. BUD/S is a six-month training course and the
first step to becoming a Navy SEAL.
Upon graduation from BUD/S,
he attended the Army Jump School, SEAL Qualification Training and SEAL
Delivery Vehicle (SDV) school. Lt. Murphy earned his SEAL Trident and
checked on board SDV Team (SDVT) 1 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in July of
2002. In October of 2002, he deployed with Foxtrot Platoon to Jordan as
the liaison officer for Exercise Early Victor.
Following his tour with
SDVT-1, Lt. Murphy was assigned to Special Operations Central Command in
Florida and deployed to Qatar in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After returning from Qatar, Lt. Murphy was deployed to the Horn of
Africa, Djibouti, to assist in the operational planning of future SDV
missions.
In early 2005, Murphy was
assigned to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 as assistant officer in charge
of ALFA Platoon and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom.
On June 28, 2005, Lt. Murphy
was the officer-in-charge of a four-man SEAL element in support of
Operation Red Wing tasked with finding key anti-coalition militia
commander near Asadabad, Afghanistan. Shortly after inserting into the
objective area, the SEALs were spotted by three goat herders who were
initially detained and then released. It is believed the goat herders
immediately reported the SEALs’ presence to Taliban fighters.
A fierce gun battle ensued on
the steep face of the mountain between the SEALs and a much larger
enemy force. Despite the intensity of the firefight and suffering grave
gunshot wounds himself, Murphy is credited with risking his own life to
save the lives of his teammates. Murphy, intent on making contact with
headquarters, but realizing this would be impossible in the extreme
terrain where they were fighting, unhesitatingly and with complete
disregard for his own life moved into the open, where he could gain a
better position to transmit a call to get help for his men.
Moving away from the
protective mountain rocks, he knowingly exposed himself to increased
enemy gunfire. This deliberate and heroic act deprived him of cover and
made him a target for the enemy. While continuing to be fired upon,
Murphy made contact with the SOF Quick Reaction Force at Bagram Air Base
and requested assistance. He calmly provided his unit’s location and
the size of the enemy force while requesting immediate support for his
team. 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. Severely wounded, Lt. Murphy
returned to his cover position with his men and continued the battle.
As a result of Murphy’s call,
an MH-47 Chinook helicopter, with eight additional SEALs and eight Army
Night Stalkers aboard, was sent in as part of the QRF to extract the
four embattled SEALs. As the Chinook drew nearer to the fight, a
rocket-propelled grenade hit the helicopter, causing it to crash and
killing all 16 men aboard.
On the ground and nearly out
of ammunition, the four SEALs, continued to fight. By the end of a
two-hour gunfight that careened through the hills and over cliffs,
Murphy, Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny Dietz and Sonar Technician
2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew Axelson had fallen. An estimated 35 Taliban
were also dead. The fourth SEAL, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SEAL)
Marcus Luttrell, was blasted over a ridge by a rocket-propelled grenade
and knocked unconscious. Though severely wounded, the fourth SEAL and
sole survivor, Luttrell, was able to evade the enemy for nearly a day;
after which local nationals came to his aide, carrying him to a nearby
village where they kept him for three more days. Luttrell was rescued by
U.S. Forces on July 2, 2005.
By his undaunted courage,
intrepid fighting spirit and inspirational devotion to his men in the
face of certain death, Lt. Murphy was able to relay the position of his
unit, an act that ultimately led to the rescue of Luttrell and the
recovery of the remains of the three who were killed in the battle.
Lt. Murphy was buried at
Calverton National Cemetery less than 20 miles from his childhood home.
Lt. Murphy’s other personal awards include the Purple Heart, Combat
Action Ribbon, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine
Corps Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon and National
Defense Service Medal.
Lt. Murphy is survived by his
mother Maureen Murphy; his father Dan Murphy; and his brother John
Murphy. Dan and Maureen Murphy, who were divorced in 1999, remain close
friends and continue to live in N.Y. Their son John, 22, attends the
New York Institute of Technology, and upon graduation will pursue a
career in criminal justice, having been accepted to the New York City
Police Deparment.
