Operation Red Wings Research Paper

Operation Red Wings, also referred to as Operation Red Wing or OP Redwing, was planned and rehearsed as a small reconnaissance mission consisting of four Navy Special Warfare Operators (SEALS) in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan in late June, 2005. Lt. Michael Murphy, Petty Officer 2nd Class Danny Dietz, Sonar Technician 2nd Class Matthew Axelson, and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell were the four team members assigned to this mission, with Murph being the ranking officer, and Luttrell assigned as team lead. What transpired in less than 24 hours was the largest death toll to Naval Special Warfare Soldiers since World War II. LT. Michael Murphy, with whom I had the pleasure of knowing personally, was the Officer in Charge of the …show more content…
Michael Murphy was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on the mountain that day. He selflessly sacrificed his life by leaving his covered position into the open, in direct enemy fire to call for reinforcements. He did so knowing he would likely be killed in the process but he didn’t hesitate, and because of his actions U.S. Forces were able to recover Marcus Luttrell as well as the remains of his team members. Luttrell, Dietz and Axelson were awarded the Navy Cross, the service’s second highest award for valor (Luttrell, 2007). Since posthumously being awarded the Medal of Honor, Lt. Murphy has also had an Arleigh Burke class destroyer (DDG-112) named after him, a U.S. Post Office in his hometown of Patchogue, New York, and his high school Alma Matter, Patchogue-Medford High School named its campus the “Navy (SEAL) LT Michael P. Murphy Campus”. Murph was a quiet professional; never one to flaunt his skills or his position, and was extremely genuine and personable when I had the chance to spend time with him. He has been and will continue to be sorely missed by the SEAL community, his family, and his friends but his legacy will be forever written as one of the most courageous SEALs in