Murph: The Protector

I've seen Lone Survivor. I've read the book. We basically got the gist of what happened up on that mountain and Operation Red Wings.But what we didn't know was who Michael Murphy was. Where he grew up,what type of person he was. I really enjoyed hearing the stories and seeing the man behind the cameo. I enjoyed hearing what he was about and what he stood for in every day life. Not just war.This movie wasn't about politics or war. It was a beautiful story of a young man with such promise and hope who left the world too soon.I highly recommend to anyone who is interested in hearing about a true American hero.

Mike Murphy obviously was a nice guy, a brave guy, an honorable guy. But this film does not do him justice. It appears no one reached out to his military buddies for photos and stories. Most of the photos and videos are not very flattering. And some of the people who claim to be his friends in this documentary don't seem like real friends. For example the guy from Penn State that drove 300 miles in the dead of winter with Murphy in the bed of the pickup truck. A real friend would have at least switched positions once in awhile. Murphy probably thought the guy would do the right thing but he didn't, just like letting the sheep herders go. They didn't do the right thing either. So I guess this documentary was insightful but not in the way the participants thought it would be. And the scholarship recipient and his parents do not add to the documentary. I thought it was an editing mistake because it was not clear who he and his parent were and why they were in the film. They didn't talk about Murphy until the very end and then it seemed kind of superficial and self serving. So the clips of them actually detracted from the documentary. The music was good and did not detract from the video. Seems like there could have been some interviews with teachers, coaches, professors, people in the military--to diversify the information. Baby and toddler pictures and stories were over used. This really should be a free documentary or memorial film. It is not a "movie". The Navy website provides more detail than this documentary. See below.Lieutenant (SEAL) Michael P. MurphyMay 7, 1976 - June 28, 2005Lt. Michael P. Murphy, fondly referred to by friends and family as “Murph,” was born May 7, 1976 in Smithtown, N.Y. and grew up in the New York City commuter town of Patchogue, N.Y. on Long Island.Murphy grew up active in sports and attended Patchogue's Saxton Middle School. In high school, Murphy took a summer lifeguard job at the Brookhaven town beach in Lake Ronkonkoma -- a job he returned to each summer through his college years. Murphy graduated from Patchogue-Medford High School in 1994.Murphy attended Penn State University, where he was an exceptional all-around athlete and student, excelling at ice hockey and graduating with honors. He was an avid reader; his reading tastes ranged from the Greek historian Herodotus to Tolstoy's "War and Peace." Murphy's favorite book was Steven Pressfield’s “Gates of Fire,” about the Spartan stand at Thermopylae. In 1998, he graduated with a pair of Bachelor of Arts degrees from Penn State -- in political science and psychology.Following graduation, he was accepted to several law schools, but instead he changed course. Slightly built at 5 feet 10 inches, Murphy decided to attend SEAL mentoring sessions at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point with his sights on becoming a U.S. Navy SEAL. Murphy accepted an appointment to the Navy's Officer Candidate School at Pensacola, Fla., in September, 2000.Murphy was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy on Dec. 13, 2000, and began Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, Calif., in January 2001, graduating with Class 236. BUD/S is a six-month training course and the first step to becoming a Navy SEAL.Upon graduation from BUD/S, he attended the Army Jump School, SEAL Qualification Training and SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) school. Lt. Murphy earned his SEAL Trident and checked on board SDV Team (SDVT) 1 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in July of 2002. In October of 2002, he deployed with Foxtrot Platoon to Jordan as the liaison officer for Exercise Early Victor.Following his tour with SDVT-1, Lt. Murphy was assigned to Special Operations Central Command in Florida and deployed to Qatar in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After returning from Qatar, Lt. Murphy was deployed to the Horn of Africa, Djibouti, to assist in the operational planning of future SDV missions.In early 2005, Murphy was assigned to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 as assistant officer in charge of ALFA Platoon and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.On June 28, 2005, Lt. Murphy was the officer-in-charge of a four-man SEAL element in support of Operation Red Wing tasked with finding key anti-coalition militia commander near Asadabad, Afghanistan. Shortly after inserting into the objective area, the SEALs were spotted by three goat herders who were initially detained and then released. It is believed the goat herders immediately reported the SEALs’ presence to Taliban fighters.A fierce gun battle ensued on the steep face of the mountain between the SEALs and a much larger enemy force. Despite the intensity of the firefight and suffering grave gunshot wounds himself, Murphy is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his teammates. Murphy, intent on making contact with headquarters, but realizing this would be impossible in the extreme terrain where they were fighting, unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own life moved into the open, where he could gain a better position to transmit a call to get help for his men.Moving away from the protective mountain rocks, he knowingly exposed himself to increased enemy gunfire. This deliberate and heroic act deprived him of cover and made him a target for the enemy. While continuing to be fired upon, Murphy made contact with the SOF Quick Reaction Force at Bagram Air Base and requested assistance. He calmly provided his unit’s location and the size of the enemy force while requesting immediate support for his team. At one point, he was shot in the back causing him to drop the transmitter. Murphy picked it back up, completed the call and continued firing at the enemy who was closing in. Severely wounded, Lt. Murphy returned to his cover position with his men and continued the battle.As a result of Murphy’s call, an MH-47 Chinook helicopter, with eight additional SEALs and eight Army Night Stalkers aboard, was sent in as part of the QRF to extract the four embattled SEALs. As the Chinook drew nearer to the fight, a rocket-propelled grenade hit the helicopter, causing it to crash and killing all 16 men aboard.On the ground and nearly out of ammunition, the four SEALs, continued to fight. By the end of a two-hour gunfight that careened through the hills and over cliffs, Murphy, Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny Dietz and Sonar Technician 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew Axelson had fallen. An estimated 35 Taliban were also dead. The fourth SEAL, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SEAL) Marcus Luttrell, was blasted over a ridge by a rocket-propelled grenade and knocked unconscious. Though severely wounded, the fourth SEAL and sole survivor, Luttrell, was able to evade the enemy for nearly a day; after which local nationals came to his aide, carrying him to a nearby village where they kept him for three more days. Luttrell was rescued by U.S. Forces on July 2, 2005.By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit and inspirational devotion to his men in the face of certain death, Lt. Murphy was able to relay the position of his unit, an act that ultimately led to the rescue of Luttrell and the recovery of the remains of the three who were killed in the battle.Lt. Murphy was buried at Calverton National Cemetery less than 20 miles from his childhood home. Lt. Murphy’s other personal awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon and National Defense Service Medal.Lt. Murphy is survived by his mother Maureen Murphy; his father Dan Murphy; and his brother John Murphy. Dan and Maureen Murphy, who were divorced in 1999, remain close friends and continue to live in N.Y. Their son John serves in a law enforcement capacity in the state of NY.

I've been aware of LT. Michael Murphy well before watching this documentary. I've known of him and his selfless act that posthumously won him the Medal Of Honor before the movie Lone Survivor. I read Marcus Luttrells book back around 2010 after it was recommended to me by a co-worker. I'm very glad I did as it has truly changed my life for the better. I have a sense of pride as an American and as a member of the military that has been perpetuated to great heights because of the 4 man SEAL element that ultimately faced their death (aside from Marcus) but would go on to become the most highly decorated SEAL unit in history. While every SEAL and member of Special Forces is innately unique and worthy of their own praise, Murphy is the one who sticks out the most. He's just a cut above the rest. In the Lone Survivor book, Marcus references that Murphy was his best friend. He even goes on to add in later interviews/speeches that he loved him. He said he never told Murphy that but he was so close with him that he practically considered him a brother. It's also worth noting that while he does a brief introduction to each of his teammates they are indeed very quick. So, needless to say, if you're looking to get to know who these guys were, the book only sheds the faintest bit of light on what was otherwise very remarkable individuals. I personally wanted to learn much more about Murphy so Murph: The Protector was a perfect avenue to take in order to do so. Marcus is thanked in the credits for sharing Michael's story. That story I'm imagining must be of Operation Red Wings as he is otherwise non-existent from the video. While I do not know exactly why, I'm willing to take an educated guess and assume it's one of two things. Either he did not want his celebrity/icon status to shadow or even merely take away from Murph or he simply could not or did not want to be part of it. I'm actually very confident that its a mixture of both. He knew it would be too difficult for him. After watching this video, I'm here to tell you that for the better part of 45 minutes, it was hard to finish this. It hit me right in the heart. While anybody who is looking to find out or learn more about the mission that ended up taking his and so many other lives will be disappointed to know there is very little in the way of new information in that regard. This is about Michael and his life leading up to his death and the events that transpired after. This one hour 16 minute movie is well worth your time for a man who is worthy of his Medal Of Honor. Rest in peace, LT.

true story about a brave man. try lone survivor too, same mission,

Didn't realise that it wouldn't play on certain DVD players. But still an outstanding biography of a Supreme Serviceman and true hero

Documentario sul Navy Seal Micheal Murphy scomparso nel 2005, durante l'operazione Red Wings; racconta la sua vita di questo soldato, dando parola a famigliari, amici e tutti coloro che conoscevano questo eroe. In lingua inglese, consigliato esclusivamente a chi conosce il genere.

A true hero - to the end always the protector! He grew up in a loving family which made him the person he was.

purtroppo non possiamo valutare il contenuto del film in quanto l'edizione che abbiamo acquistato non è visibile con i ns lettori blue ray (almeno non con quelli che abbiamo noi)!