On June 28, 2005, Lt. Michael Murphy lead a four-man Navy SEAL team, deep behind enemy lines in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan. The terrain was mountainous and rugged at an unforgiving altitude of 10,000 feet. Their mission was to conduct reconnaissance to find Ahmad Shah, the leader of a guerrilla group that aligned itself with the Taliban.
A fierce firefight erupted between the four SEALs and an enemy force of more than 50 anti-coalition militia. The enemy had the 4-man team outnumbered and the terrain advantage. They launched a well-organized, three-sided attack on the SEALs and relentlessly forced them deeper into a ravine.
Despite the intensity of the incoming fire and suffering several gunshot wounds, Lt. Murphy risked his own life to save the lives of his teammates. Determined to contact headquarters, but realizing it would be impossible in the extreme terrain where they were fighting, he unhesitatingly moved into the open to gain a better position for transmitting a call and get help for his men.
Lt. Murphy moved from cover and exposed himself to increased enemy gunfire. While continuing to be fired upon, he made contact with the SOF Quick Reaction Force and requested immediate assistance. At one point he was shot in the back causing him to drop the satellite phone. He picked it back up, completed the call and signed off saying, "Thank You." He continued to fight from his exposed position until succumbing to his wounds. For his actions that day, Lt. Michael Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
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