Park named for hero Navy SEAL, lifeguard

At a ceremony to dedicate Brookhaven Town Beach in the

name of Lt. Michael P. Murphy, Navy Rear Adm. Joe Maguire gave the most

detailed public accounting of the death of the former town lifeguard, who lived

as a Navy SEAL and died a hero's death last year on a mountainside in

Afghanistan.

Murphy, who would have turned 30 yesterday, was killed in June when he and

three other SEAL commandos were on a mission in a remote mountainous area near

the Pakistan border.

Maguire addressed about 500 people yesterday - including more than a dozen

of Murphy's SEAL comrades, who flew in from as far away as Hawaii - who

attended the sunset ceremony that was capped by a booming fireworks display.

Maguire said the commando unit Murphy led had been injected into the area

to conduct surveillance on a Taliban force that had crossed into Afghanistan

from Pakistan through the Hindu Kush mountains.

But the four commandos were discovered within two days of their deployment,

and found themselves in a fierce firefight with 75 to 80 combatants.

Murphy, who was wounded about a half-hour into the 45-minute firefight,

climbed atop a high rock so that he could establish contact with an orbiting

communications satellite.

His call was credited with setting off a search that allowed a comrade to

be saved.

But the climb left him exposed, and he was hit again by gunfire.

In all, three SEALs were killed. A wounded fourth was hidden by villagers,

and eventually turned over to U.S. forces.

The tragedy was compounded when eight SEAL and eight Army commandos

responding to Murphy's call were shot down. All aboard the Chinook helicopter

were killed, in what was the biggest loss of life for U.S. forces in

Afghanistan since fighting began there in 2001.

Murphy, a member of the Class of 1994 at Patchogue-Medford High School,

began working as a park attendant that year.

"This park is a fitting memorial to Michael," Maguire said. "This is where

Michael thrived."

Murphy's father, Daniel Murphy, also addressed the gathering. "Michael was

an incredible person, and the world is a lesser place without him in it," he

said.

Daniel Murphy then looked on as a red granite monument in his son's name

was unveiled. It features a rendition of the Purple Heart medal, and looks out

over the waters of Lake Ronkonkoma.