News

Prepared Remarks by the Honorable Donald C. Winter Secretary of the Navy Dan, Maureen, and John, members of the Murphy family, Congressman Bishop,
members of SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE, distinguished guests, ladies andgentlemen, thank you for inviting me to join you in today's events honoringan American hero.I would also like to recognize a special guest-Mrs. Natalie Healy, mother of
another fallen hero, Senior Chief Dan Healy.Thank you for coming to share this moment with us. * * * This idyllic setting, the scene of so many childhood memories, and countlesshours in the water when Michael Murphy was a boy, likely planted the seed
that developed into his youthful dream of becoming a Navy SEAL.Lake Ronkonkoma provides the backdrop to the story that brings us heretoday, and that will always be associated with an illustrious name inAmerican military history.
Michael Murphy was a product of many beneficent influences in his life, notleast of which were those provided by his family.I have been struck by the strength and character of the Murphy family-theirquiet dignity, their deep pride in a family member's extraordinary
achievements, and their obvious love for a son who was a light of theirlife.Much of the strength and success of our Navy SEALs comes from theirfamilies. When asked about the source of their discipline, their determination, and
their ambition to become the best of the best, Navy's SEALs invariably citethe values their parents inculcated in them as boys, and the support theirfamilies provided them during difficult assignments as our Nation's
front-line warriors.It has certainly been a privilege to learn about the Michael Murphy story,and to meet the extraordinary parents who raised him.Michael Murphy epitomizes the value and the capabilities of our finest
warriors-Navy SEAL's. The Michael Murphy story is one that was recently told in public ceremonieslast October. As a recipient of the Medal of Honor, Michael Murphy's name will occupy aplace among the most admired and distinguished heroes our country has ever
produced.He embodied the SEAL creed. He lived the values he preached. He led by example. When faced with the ultimate test, he demonstrated that his SEAL teammateswere privileged to have served with a leader of truly outstanding character.
Although Michael Murphy's life has passed into the night of history,leavingan immense void in the hearts of all who knew him, his spirit lives on inthe hearts of the warriors who serve in his beloved SEAL community.
Michael Murphy's claim on life and virtue inspired those around him, andshowed all of us that the dark corners of history are also illuminated bygreatness, goodness, and acts of simple decency.Even as a small child, Michael showed signs of fierce tenacity, an
unshakable sense of right and wrong, and uncommon courage.The young child of two who, after having been nicked with the blade of anaxe above his eye, reassured a terrified mother that it didn't hurt, grew
upinto a twelve-year old who confronted three bullies who were tormenting adisabled child.The bullies were bigger, but Michael's sense of right and wrong was sostrong that he came to the child's rescue.
It was always that way with Michael. His parents, after the incident in school, dubbed him "TheProtector,"someone who defended the weak against those who would prey upon them.Michael was driven by a desire to always do the right thing-regardless of
the cost to himself. He was the kind of person who, if you were in a spot-with a flat tire by theside of the road, or lost, or in distress-he would stop and help.He was just that kind of guy. And the world always seemed a more beautiful place because of him.
Michael's sense of duty to others also extended to his determination neverto let others down-whether teammates on the playing field or teammates onthe battlefield.In high school, Michael would play injured-time and time again.
His team was counting on him, and he could not let them down. Never complaining, he bore challenges silently, stoicly. Convinced that adversity builds character, he followed his own advice toothers to "suck it up" when the going gets tough.
In BUDS training, the going got tough-very tough. Michael was hospitalized for ten days with a painful injury to his shinswhile in BUDS, resulting in his being rolled from Class 235 to 236. His agonizing condition would have ended the ambitions of lesser men, but
they did not make many like Michael Murphy.The only thing that saved him was his awesome tenacity-and the blessedarrival of the water phase of SEAL training. Looking back now, we see in Michael's life experiences, the making of a
hero-of a young man destined to make his mark in the world, with acts ofkindness and courage, great and small.Michael made his mark as a Navy SEAL, and never more so than on the 28th ofJune 2005. His actions on that day drew on the long and unique tradition of Navy
leadership. The leader assumes responsibility for the welfare of his men, and heconsiders it a solemn duty to ensure their safety. This was Michael's mindset on 28 June, when four Navy SEAL's-thousands
ofmiles from the nearest body of water-found themselves in the mountains ofAfghanistan, outgunned and under hostile fire.In the face of mortal dangers, Michael decided to abandon a covered positionand put himself at risk in order to try and save the team.
Michael's fellow SEAL's always thought of him as the type of leadertheywould follow to the ends of the earth. On that day, Michael showed why. Michael knew that by seeking higher ground, he was risking it all.
But it was the only way he knew how to live. His teammates were in a spot-a truly dire situation. Michael would come to the rescue-just as he always did-in life and in hisfinal act of heroism. It was at that moment that God took The Protector into his loving arms.
* * * We are accustomed to looking into distant history for examples of greatheroes-larger than life figures whose achievements fill us with admirationand respect.It is easy to think of heroes from earlier ages, heroes whose wondrous deeds
were performed in bygone eras. It is more difficult to imagine, on the other hand, that the neighbor youused to watch swimming in the lake, or the boy who used to deliver yournewspaper, or the classmate you used to play football with, ended up with a
place among the most honored heroes in our nation's history.And yet today's heroes belong, by any standard, to another greatestgeneration, a generation of heroes that our children and grandchildren will
read about with wonder and awe.It is therefore most appropriate that the heroes in our own time berecognized, and that their stories be told. At a time when the Nation is crying out for heroes who might also serve as
exemplary role models in life, here we have in Michael Murphy the genuinearticle-a hero who qualifies on every level.* * * One of the great privileges I have as Secretary of the Navy is to honor
great heroes by naming ships after them. So today, it gives me great pleasure to announce that DDG 112-our newestdestroyer-will be named after Michael Murphy. Michael Murphy's name-which will forever be synonymous with astonishing
courage under fire-will now be associated with one of the U.S. Navy's mosttechnologically advanced, most powerful, and most capable warships.Every Sailor who crosses the brow, every Sailor who hears the Officer of the
Deck announce the arrival of the Commanding Officer, and every Sailor whoenters a foreign land representing our great Nation will do so as an honoredmember of USS MICHAEL MURPHY.Michael Murphy's life is an example of what one of America's finest had
tooffer-a life dedicated to sacrifice and service.In Michael Murphy, we have a sense of the inspirational words of Longfellow,who spoke to us with timeless beauty: "Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time; Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o'er life's solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again." Michael Murphy has left behind him on the sands of time great and noblefootprints that will inspire and hearten all who serve in the ship thatbears his name.May God bless and protect him, his family, his fellow Navy SEAL's, and all
those who will have the honor of serving on USS MICHAEL MURPHY.And may God continue to bless America. * * * Now I would like to make a very special request. There is a time-honored tradition in the United States Navy of christening
our ships. It is the role of the ship's sponsor to perform the ceremonial duty ofbreaking a bottle of champagne on the hull of the ship, formally christeningher for all to see.The sponsor then becomes part of that ship's history, charged with carrying
on the spirit of the ship, whatever her destiny.The ship's company may change many times over the course of a ship'slife,but the sponsor remains the same. I cannot think of anyone more appropriate to serve as the sponsor of USS
MICHAEL MURPHY, or anyone who could better carry on the spirit of that ship,than Michael Murphy's mother.Maureen, would you kindly accept this honor? [Wait for Response from Maureen] Thank you Maureen for accepting this great honor.