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New warship named after Irish-American hero

The late Lieutenant Michael Murphy from Long Island honored

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, May 9, 2011, 7:52 AM

Updated Monday, May 9, 2011, 10:09 AM

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The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that will be named for Medal of Honor recipient and Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy is seen at Bath Iron Works in Maine.

Photo by Newsday

A warship named after an Irish-American Navy Seal commando who won America’s highest award for bravery in Afghanistan was launched on Saturday in Maine.

The ship was named after Lieutenant Michael Murphy from Long Island, New York who was killed while serving in Afghanistan in 2005. He was later awarded the Congressional Medal of honor.

His Irish parents Dan and Maureen Murphy travelled to Main for the ceremony.

His father told the Irish Echo newspaper: "I'm really proud. It was Michael's Seals who bagged the beast."

"Michael would have been 35 this Saturday," he said, adding that his son would have been proud of the Pakistan mission that killed Osama Bin Laden.

On Saturday the destroyer USS Michael Murphy was launched at the Bath Ironworks shipyard.

Admiral Eric Olson, currently the commander of US Special Forces Command was in attendance.

Lt Murphy was leading a four man team that was ambushed by u to 40 Taliban members. He was killed when he left cover to try and get a radio signal so he could call for help.

During the firefight in which Lt Murphy was killed, two other soldiers also died and one survived.

The men were all awarded the navy cross, making them the most decorated unit in the history of the Navy Seals.

Nster.com

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jed1982 | May 11, 2011, 10:37 AM EDT

There is a book written about the ambush in Afghanistan, by Marcus Luttrell The sole survivor of the ambush, It's called Lone Survivor, I read it a while back and would highly recomend it, There making a movie about the events its called "survivor"

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seamusmoore | May 10, 2011, 08:46 AM EDT

@cillowen, at least America will never to have sit like impotent turds while our fellow countrymen are terrorized and burnt out of their homes like the folks of Belfast were in August, 1969. BTW, the operative word for those like you is free-"dumb", who ignore the words of Thomas Jefferson: "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance". It is those like the late Lt. Michael Murphy that make the US the great country that is (that's why so many Irish need to be "legalized"; BTW, let me know when a community of Americans moves en masse to your village like happend in the 1980's). Thank you, thank you, thank you , Mr and Mrs Murphy for the service of your late son to our country. Maybe he always be remembered and may God have mercy on his soul.

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cillowen | May 09, 2011, 11:57 PM EDT

the fighting irish a great tool to excite mindless fanatic recruits.

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Juanice | May 09, 2011, 08:27 PM EDT

Now with that killer beast gone forever, I hope no other service men or ladies' will have to dye. I can't say enough that it is good riddance.Thank you again President Obama

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JohnnyMac | May 09, 2011, 04:22 PM EDT

I've had the pleasure of meeting Mr & Mrs Murphy. This was a wonderful honour in memory of their Hero son Lt Michael Murphy (RIP).

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cpdpi0716 | May 09, 2011, 03:59 PM EDT

God Bless LT Murphy, the US Military and the military forces of our allies. I got a cab ride from a retired Irish soldier in Dublin recently. I shook his hand and thanked him for being our ally from one veteran to another.

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Chiefjustice | May 09, 2011, 02:41 PM EDT

BRAVO-ZULU Mr. MURPHY BRAVO-ZULU

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BillyFitz | May 09, 2011, 11:22 AM EDT

Yes Murph !! Osama's boys better watch their back's ..

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MikeRock | May 09, 2011, 10:43 AM EDT

I don't believe that I read about this story in the NEW YORK TIMES.

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bunkerhill | May 09, 2011, 10:36 AM EDT

We Americans and the descendents of the Irish diaspora around the world should be very proud of Navy Seal and Medal of Honor winner Michael Murphy. It is very fitting that a young man of his caliber should have a ship named after him. However it is a terrible tragedy for his parents. Read David McCullough's book on President John Adams and you will find the concept that our beautiful country the US was founded on came from Ireland. "All men are created equal," and Ireland can also be very proud of that.

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antoman | May 09, 2011, 10:06 AM EDT

Four Navy Seal Commando's against forty Taliban.That's a hell of a fight.It is quite an honour to have a ship named after the brave man who fought in that engagement.Brings to mind the Sullivan brothers who fought in WW2 who I think had a ship named for them.

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