Slain Navy SEAL from Patchogue subject of biography

An Ohio author who is on Long Island to promote his newly released biography of Lt. Michael P. Murphy said the opportunity to tell the story of the slain Navy SEAL from Patchogue was "the chance of a lifetime."

"You don't write a story like this and not be changed as a result of it," said the author, Gary Williams, at a book signing Thursday at Borders Books on Manhattan's Park Avenue. "To write about a man like him was a chance of a lifetime."

The 216-page biography, "Seal of Honor," describes Murphy's life from his childhood in Patchogue through his 2000 enlistment in the Navy, his training for the Navy's elite SEAL commando team and his June 2005 death during an ambush in eastern Afghanistan. It ends with descriptions of Murphy's funeral, and his posthumous award of the nation's highest military honor - the Medal of Honor - by President George W. Bush in 2007.

The book, published by the Navy Institute Press, was released May 5.

Murphy's parents - Daniel Murphy of Wading River, and Maureen Murphy of Patchogue - cooperated during Williams' more than two years of research and writing, and are helping to promote the book. Several book signings have been scheduled in the area in the next few weeks.

Both parents, who attended Thursday's signing, said they were moved by Williams' work.

"To be honest with you, reading that book is so emotional for me that I've had to put it down," Maureen Murphy said. "It's not just someone's child I am reading about in that book, it's my son."

Daniel Murphy said one passage in particular moved him to tears.

The passage described a woman from East Hampton who never knew Michael Murphy, but who since reading of his life and death has visited his grave at Calverton National Cemetery several times each year. The woman, Ewa Banas, makes a four-hour round-trip by bus - connecting in Riverhead - because she has no car.

"Everything else about Michael's story I knew, but that was such an unexpected snapshot," Daniel Murphy said. "I can't keep my emotions in check."

Williams said he stumbled upon Murphy's story while pursuing a book idea about war heroes from each of America's wars. He put that project aside to do the Murphy biography.

He said he downplayed descriptions of the battle where Murphy was killed, choosing to emphasize the character and leadership he said Murphy displayed throughout his life.

New York filmmaker Scott Mactavish has purchased the movie rights for the book.

Mactavish, himself a Navy veteran, said he would like to make a film that would counter a generally critical view of the U.S. military and people in uniform he says has prevailed since the Vietnam War.

"We need to hear more about how good we are," said Mactavish, who also was at the book signing. "And Mike is that guy."