Memorial Day Murph Workout

Crossfit has a list of hero workouts, and each workout is named after a US Soldier (usually Special Forces) who has heroically given their lives for the country and for their friends. One such is Lt Michael Murphy, a US Navy Seal, who heroically laid down his life for his country and for his friends.


Lt Murphy was born in 1976, graduated from Penn State in 1998, joined the Navy (despite having several offers from law schools), in 2000 went to Officer Canidates School (OCS), and in 2001 became a Navy SEAL. He was deployed overseas, and served several tours in various places. On June 28, 2005, Lt Murphy was leading a 4-man SEAL team in Afghanistan hunting a top Taliban leader. The team was comprised of Michael Murphy, Danny Dietz, Matthew Alexson, and Marcus Luttrell. A group of sheepherders saw them and alerted the Taliban to the SEAL presence. Unbeknownst to the four SEALs, about 40 Taliban surrounded the SEAL team isolating them on the face of a mountain. An intense firefight ensued, and the SEALs valiantly fought back. Lt Murphy attempted to radio for reinforcements, but the rugged terrain made radio transmissions impossible. With reckless disregard for his own safety, Lt Murphy exposed himself to enemy fire and moved into the open so that he could radio in for reinforcements. At one point, he was shot in the back and dropped the radio transmitter. Despite being mortally wounded, he picked up the transmitter and finished calling in the attack. He even said "Thank you" at the end of the call and hung up the receiver. He then rejoined his SEAL team behind cover.

With the exception of Luttrell (3rd from right) all these SEALs died on June 28, 2005. Murphy is on the far right, Axelson is on the far left.

A helicopter, equipped with 16 Special Forces personnel responded to the location (8 of which were Navy SEALs), but was shot down by an RPG. There were no survivors on board. For the next two hours, the four SEALs continued to fight over rugged terrain as they attempted to flee to safety. Lt Murphy succumbed to his wounds. Two other SEALs Danny Dietz and Matthew Axelson, were also cut down. SEAL Marcus Luttrell was blown back by an RPG, and knocked unconscious. Despite his severe wounds, Luttrell evaded the Taliban for a day and eventually was rescued by locals. He was rescued on July 2, 2005 by US Special Forces. You can read his story in his book, Lone Survivor.

The SEALs didn't go quiet into that dark night. Rear Admiral Joseph Maguire, Commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, told Murphy’s father, “Don’t think these men went down easily…Taliban bodies were strewn all over, 30-40 were killed, with a total of 80 casualties from the four- man team."

Michael Murphy - a true hero

Lt Murphy was buried on July 13, 2005 in Long Island. He received the Medal of Honor on October 22, 2007. You can read more about him, his life, and his death at his official (Navy-made/mantained) Medal of Honor site and this special report.

According to my understanding, Lt Murphy was an avid Crossfitter. His favorite workout, a self-creation, he called "Body Armor". Today it is called Murph, and is one of the toughest workouts I have ever done.

I mention him today, not just because we are going to do the famous "Murph" workout. Rather, I mention him because today as I read the headlines on CNN, I noticed that a journalist had (rather appropriately) written an article on Michael Murphy and his family this Memorial Day. The article discusses today's war heroes. It observes that we as a nation simply don't treat our war heroes as we should. It used to be that sort of courage would be immortalized in people's minds, and recreated on the silver screen (i.e. Sgt York), but now, perhaps of the politics of this war, we seem to gloss over many of these war heroes. This is a tragedy, because these men are the real heroes. The Bible says that there is no greater love then someone who lays down his life for his friends. Men like Lt Murphy die for their country - yes, but many died for their friends. Lt Murphy died to save his SEAL team. Luttrell lived because of Lt Murphy's actions. In a country where heroes do shockingly little good and possesses little more than dashing good looks, lots of money, and a lot of movie/endorsement deals - it would do us good to pay attention and hold in highest honor men like Lt Murphy.

I don't want to neglect to mention the other SEALs with Lt Murphy that day.

Danny Dietz was one of the spotters on the original SEAL team. He died at the age of 25. According to accounts of the story, he refused to back down and continued fighting despite being dragged away by one of the other team members. Dietz suffered 16 gunshot wounds and eventually died from him injuries.

Danny left behind his wife (Maria), whom he had been married to for about 2 years. Today, a memorial stands in his hometown of Littleton, CO. He received the Navy Cross, the second highest award in the military. His father says he couldn't be prouder.

Matt Axelson was one of the snipers on that SEAL team. He died at the age of 29 from numerous gunshot wounds to the body and head.

Matt left behind his wife (Cindy) of nearly two years. He also received the Navy Cross. His family has put together an extremely moving website dedicated to his life and heroism.



I had to include this video about his life - it is quite moving.

Marcus Luttrell was the miraculous lone survivor of the group. Today he is retired from the Navy, and has written book about his experience called Lone Survivor. This article documents his story - check out the video below as well... this is a true warrior.




Take today to remember Lt Murphy, the SEALs with him, and many like them. Over the past several hundred years, thousands and thousands of men and women have given up their lives for this country. Many don't have the medal and ribbon of Lt Murphy, but all are nevertheless heroic. Tonight, maybe instead of reading your kids a feel-good bedtime story, tell them a story of a true hero - a true hero like Lt Michael Murphy, Danny Dietz, Matt Axelson, Marcus Luttrell, and the heroes on that helicopter.

The heroes in the helicopter:

Nightstalkers:

• Staff Sgt. Shamus O. Goare, 29, of Danville, Ohio
• Chief Warrant Officer Corey J. Goodnature, 35, of Clarks Grove, Minnesota.
• Sgt. Kip A. Jacoby, 21, of Pompano Beach, Florida
• Sgt. 1st Class Marcus V. Muralles, 33, of Shelbyville, Indiana
• Master Sgt. James W. Ponder III, 36, of Franklin, Tennessee
• Maj. Stephen C. Reich, 34, of Washington Depot, Connecticut.
• Sgt. 1st Class Michael L. Russell, 31, of Stafford, Virginia
• Chief Warrant Officer Chris J. Scherkenbach, 40, of Jacksonville, Florida

SEALs:

• Chief Petty Officer Jacques J. Fontan, 36, of New Orleans, Louisiana
• Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel R. Healy, 36, of Exeter, New Hampshire
• Lt. Cmdr. Erik S. Kristensen, 33, of San Diego, California
• Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffery A. Lucas, 33, of Corbett, Oregon
• Lt. Michael M. McGreevy, Jr., 30, of Portville, New York
• Petty Officer 2nd Class James E. Suh, 28, of Deerfield Beach, Florida
• Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey S. Taylor, 30, of Midway, West Virginia
• Petty Officer Second Class Eric Shane Patton, 22, of Boulder City, Nevada

Note that Lt Michael McGreevy also has a Crossfit workout named after him: "Michael" will be done later on this week.