With a name like that I assumed there had to be an Irish connection and so some research led me to the story of Lieut Michael P Murphy, a Navy Seal who was killed in Afghanistan in 2005. On graduating from high school Murphy was accepted into Penn State University where he studied psychology and political science. [ Ernie O’Malley’s century-old memoirs now read like a nature writer at warOpens in new window ]Having completed officer’s school, Murphy then set his sights on becoming a Navy Seal. A fierce gunfight ensued with the Seal team greatly outnumbered. Since his death, a Navy Seal museum named in his honour has been opened on Long Island and in 2011 the US Navy christened their ship, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, after Murphy.

Source: The Irish Times March 02, 2026 22:02 UTC