The U.S. Navy is set to commission its newest guided missile destroyer with the name of a Navy Seal lieutenant who was stationed in Hawaii, and who became the first American awarded the Medal of Honor in Afghanistan.
29-year old Lieutenant Michael Murphy was killed in 2005 along with two fellow navy seals during a taliban ambush.
In 2007, President Bush presented the first medal of honor awarded for combat in Afghanistan to Lt. murphy’s parents.
He is the first navy seal since the vietnam war to receive the nation’s highest military honor for valor.
"Today we add Lt. Micheal Murphy’s name to the list of those you have made the ultimate sacrifice deep in mountains of Afghanistan this brave officer gave his life in dense of his fellow navy seals."
Saturday the Long Island native will have the newest Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer named in his honor.
"He grew up in a blue collar family, a blue collar home, and for this country," said CMDR. Tom Shultz with the U.S.S Michael Murphy.
Murphy’s mother, Maureen, who will preside at the Saturday ceremony commissioning the 510-foot destroyer on the Hudson River in New York City, has received the honorary title of ship’s sponsor.
"It was just so overwhelming to just see his name up there…especially for a person that always loved like and knew to do the right thing," said Maureen Murphy, Lt. Murphy’s mother.
After sea trials the U.S.S Michael Murphy will be stationed at Pearl Harbor as part of Navy’s pacific fleet.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
