(From the Navy News Service)
The Navy will christen the newest guided-missile destroyer, Michael Murphy, Saturday May 7 during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine.
The new destroyer honors Navy SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) Lt. Michael P. Murphy who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan June 28, 2005.
Murphy led a four-man team tasked with finding a key Taliban leader in the mountainous terrain near Asadabad, Afghanistan, when they came under fire from a much larger enemy force with superior tactical position. Mortally wounded while exposing himself to enemy fire, Murphy knowingly left his position of cover to get a clear signal in order to communicate with his headquarters. While being shot at repeatedly, Murphy calmly provided his unit's location and requested immediate support for his element. He returned to his cover position to continue the fight until finally succumbing to his wounds.
Designated DDG 112, Michael Murphy, the 62nd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. Michael Murphy will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and will contain a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime warfare in keeping with "A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower."
Shield: The shape is taken from the shield on the New York shield to indicate Michael Murphy's home state. Navy blue and gold are the traditional colors of the Navy and the shield is divided by a chevron which symbolizes the ship on a dark blue sea horizoned by a starry sky which here is the light blue chief with seven white stars that recalls the Medal Of Honor colors with the stars elluding to the ship's and the SEAL Team operations across the Seven Seas. The Maltese Cross stands as recognition of the FDNY Engine Company 43 which was used as inspiration for LT Murphy's SEAL Team and tied his motivation to the events of 9-11. The flaming sword of Michael the Archangel, for whom he is named and the Spartan shield are reflective of his fateful battle and SEAL ethos. The purple detail line on the sword, double saltire and chevron reversed on the Spartan shield is representative of the Purple Heart awarded to the 20 Americans who were part of Operation RED WINGS and all the service men and women who have sacrificed for their country. The Medal Of Honor, the nation's highest declaration for valor, draped as being worn by LT Murphy , is a reminder of his ultimate sacrifice for his Teammates and his being the first Medal Of Honor recipient from the war in Afghanistan and the first Navy recipient since the Vietnam War.
Crest: the rolled and turned Red, White and Blue Ribbon honors the patriotic service of the SEAL Teams since their formation, surmounted here by the SEAL Trident which LT Murphy was proud to wear.
Supports: The sword and the cutlass represent the officers and crew of the USS Michael Murphy.
Motto: A Navy blue scroll bordered and turned gold and forming the initials M and M are a tribute to the ship's namesake and his mother Maureen Murphy and inscribed "LEAD THE FIGHT" in gold letters.
May God bless and keep all who serve on the USS Michael Murphy!!
