LT. MICHAEL P. MURPHY, a Navy SEAL, who died in combat in Afghanistan in 2005, received the Medal of Honor for his heroism. A new destroyer the Navy is scheduled to accept today from Bath Iron Works will bear his name. A challenging trail race Saturday in Bath also pays tribute to Murphy.
The race will follow today’s official “delivery” of the future USS Michael Murphy — a DDG 112 under construction at Bath Iron Works — to the U.S. Navy.
Murphy was posthumously awarded the U.S. military’s highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in 2005. He was the first member of the U.S. Navy to receive the award since the Vietnam War.
Murphy was the officer-incharge of a four-man SEAL team when, on June 28, 2005, a gun battle ensued with a much larger enemy force, according to a biography provided by the U.S. Navy.
“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 this teammates.”
“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 (a fellow SEAL) and the recovery of the remains of the three (SEALS) who were killed in the battle,” the biography states.
Karyn Garofoli, assistant director of the Bath Parks and Recreation Department, said they were interested in organizing a race on the city’s “beautiful trails,” and the Navy SEAL Foundation hoped to hold a fundraiser to honor Murphy.
“We wanted it to be a challenging race, similar to what Michael Murphy would be expected to do as a Navy SEAL,” Garofoli said Wednesday. “The trail race sounded like a perfect match.”
Saturday’s 5-mile race along the Whiskeag Trail will encompass puddles, downed trees, uneven surfaces and switchbacks, according to Garofoli.
“It will be challenging in every sense of the word,” she said.
Proceeds from the race will benefit, in equal parts, the Navy SEAL Foundation, the Michael P. Murphy Scholarship Fund, and Fields for Our Future.
Following the race, Shipyard Brewing Co. will sponsor a barbecue and beer tent, free to all runners and available to non-runners for $10 per adult ($5 pre-paid) or $5 for those younger than 12.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, and runners should pick up their number and T-shirt between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Saturday at McMann Athletic Complex on Congress Avenue.
Shuttles will bus participants to the starting line prior to the 10 a.m. race time.
bbrogan@timesrecord.com
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