L.I. Town To Present Award Posthumously To Navy SEAL Killed In Afghanistan
RONKONKOMA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island town will honor a Navy SEAL killed in a 2005 firefight in Afghanistan on Thursday by presenting the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award to his family.
Lt. Michael P. Murphy, 29, was killed on June 28, 2005 while leading a reconnaissance team looking for the commander of a group of insurgents known as the Mountain Tigers. Two other members of his team were also killed.
For several years, the Town of Islip has honored the World War II general on his birthday by giving an award in his name.
Local officials as well as Congressmen Peter King and Timothy Bishop are expected to attend the ceremony at MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma this afternoon.
Murphy's team faced off with 100 heavily armed Taliban after their location was compromised. Murphy, who was already shot, disregarded his safety and exposed himself to gunfire to get a clear signal to contact Bagram Airfield.
He finished the call and even managed to sign off, "Roger that, sir. Thank you," after being shot a second time.
Sixteen rescuers also died during the operation after their helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade.
In 2007, Murphy was the first Navy SEAL to be awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously since the Vietnam War.
Last year, the Navy christened a warship named in his honor.
