Michael Murphy's father seeks to preserve hero son's legacy in talk at Connetquot library

Dan Murphy recalled the day his son, Michael, told him that as a part of his SEAL training, he needed to learn to drown.

When the alarmed father asked him why,  his son explained that when crossing enemy lines in the water,  the SEALS may have to drown rather than making a sound that could compromise their mission. So, his son explained, they must rely on their swim buddy to pull them out of the water and bring them back to life.

It was part of the training U.S. Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy received before going on a counterinsurgent mission in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005. His team fell under attack and to signal for help, Michael walked into the open with a satellite phone and made contact before dying of multiple shot wounds. He was awarded the nation’s highest honor for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his sacrifice.

His father, who told the story at the Connetquot Public Library in Bohemia Tuesday, now tells his son’s story to preserve his legacy. 

Murphy recalled seeing his son’s leadership skills at a young age when he was growing up in Patchogue, recalling a time his friends would come up to Michael and ask him what they were doing today. "And I always thought to myself, ‘Isn’t that interesting? ... They look to Mike as to what they wanted to do,'" Murphy said to the audience. "And I realized what his friends recognized ... that Michael always knew to do the right thing, at the right time, and for the right reasons. And for that reason, that’s why they basically came to him."

During his time at school, Murphy recalled his son was known as "Murph the Protector." In the eighth grade, his son intervened when he saw a special needs student being tossed into a locker by three bullies.

This wouldn’t be the last time his son would defend someone.  While heading home from school, he also protected a homeless man who was under attack by kids while collecting cans.

After graduating high school, Michael Murphy attended Pennsylvania State University but would make weekend bus trips back home. But Murphy would drive him back to school every Sunday night. "And I have to tell you those five hours of driving him, every one of those weekend, we talked about everything. I mean everything. It’s just something I’ll never regret out of those times," Murphy told the audience.

It was during one of those drives his son told him he was thinking of joining the military. Michael wanted to go into special operations and had spoken to a captain and Navy SEAL, at Penn State about a possible career. Murphy was nervous for his son but came to recognize his son had a passion for his service.

Now, in the 20th anniversary of his son’s death, Murphy said he is happy his son’s story seems to "resonate" to those who hear it. Murphy, a Vietnam veteran, remembered a time when he told his son, "when things go bad they go really bad." Michael Murphy responded by saying that if anything should happen to him, he should know that it happened doing something he loved.

Librarian Jennifer Lasko, who orchestrated the event, said: "I have admired people who, you know, serve the country. And it’s heartbreaking what happened." 

Lasko said it was especially important that people hear about a local hero, hoping they gain "an appreciation" for the fact that "he gave his life for his country and for his team."