Talking with Evil...

While attending the World Economic Forum in Switzerland in January, 2003, then-Secretary of State Colin Powell was asked by the former Archbishop of Canterbury if America was relying too much on "hard power" such as military action as opposed to "soft power" such as appealing to the common values of the major religions and building trust based on those values.

Secretary Powell responded by affirming the "soft power" of values but that it was the "hard power" of the military that, for example helped free Europe and the so called "soft power" of peace and reconstruction could take place.

He then said, "We have gone from our shores repeatedly over the last hundred years and we've done this as recently as the last year in Afghanistan and put wonderful young men and women at risk, many of whom have lost their lives, and we have asked for nothing except enough ground to bury them...and otherwise we have returned home...to live our own lives in peace. But there comes a time when soft power or talking with evil will not work where...hard power is the only thing that works."

Why He Fought

In early September 2000, aboard the USS Intrepid,  a young man raised his right hand and took his oath of enlistment and four months later, again raised his right hand and repeated his commissioning oath as an ensign in the United States Navy. In both instances he swore to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. On June 28, 2005, LT Michael Patrick Murphy was killed in the forbidding terrain of the Hindu Kush in eastern Afghanistan fulfilling his oath.

In honor of his faithful service and selfless sacrifice in defense of the Constitution and our way of life, we will be giving away a free pocket copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States with the purchase of any copy of SEAL of Honor: Operation Red Wings and the Life of LT. Michael P. Murphy, USN ordered through our web site or at any author event.

Book Availability at USS Michael Murphy Christening Event

We have partnered with our good friends Sue Steer and Jason Morin at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine to make plenty of copies of SEAL of Honor available following the remarks of former NAVSEC Dr. Donald C. Winters on Thursday evening and during the christenig ceremonies on Saturday morning. We are working on making sure as many of the copies as possible are signed by the author and the entire Murphy family, but we cannot guarantee that signed copies will be available to everyone.  BIW officials are expecting between 2,000 and 2,500 people in attendance.

The Mission

The mission of SEAL of Honor is to advocate for the remarkable legacy of not only LT Michael Murphy, but also those on his team that perished on 25 June 2005 and in a much broader sense all those who choose to wear our nation's uniform and defend the freedoms that have handed to each of us by the previous generation.

To help us with our overall mission, we are asking all friends and fans of our Facebook page to add this site to your personal blog and to encourage your friends to do the same. There is nothing we cannot accomplish if we all work together.

A review of our site's resources tab shows we are very active in promoting other causes and pages that share a similar mission and vision. If you know of a worthy site or program that could use our support, send an e-mail to our Pubicist via the contat tab under Team Murphy...and if you know a similar organization with a Facebook page or blog, please recommend SEAL of Honor to them as well.

Family Aid Military Concert - Miamisburg, Ohio

Look for us at our next event the Family Aid Military Concert sponsored by the organization A Dollar To Care. We are looking forward to gathering with thousands of freedom and military loving Americans, elected officials and military veterans on Saturday, April 30, 2010. 

Reserve Officer's Association (Ohio Convention)

I had the pleasure of speaking to the Reserve Officer's Association (ROA) Ohio Convention in Mansfield on Saturday. Met many wonderful patriots and the decades of service in the room was staggering as was the number of highly decorated veterans' from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghaninstan. 

I also had the honor and privilege of meeting with retired Air Force Colonel Walker Williams III, the national president of the Reserve Officer's Association. Colonel Williams logged over 9,000 flying hours during his 30 year career and is a exemplary representative of not only himself, but the Air Force and the ROA. I look forward to addressing over 500 ROA members at the 2012 ROA National Convention in Washington, D.C. in February.

To all our readers, if you are a retired officer from any branch of service including the NOAA, check out the ROA at http://www.roa.org./

LT Michael Murphy Tribute Video - SEALing My Fate by Craig Palmer

Under the Media Tab is the tribute video to LT Michael P. Murphy. Partial proceeds go to support the LT Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation, a tax-exempt foundation. When asked why he wrote the song, Craig replied:

"I met Michael the first day of school, freshman year at Penn State University. The shared experiences over the next four years were countless, priceless and timeless. Michael was always the guy cheering the loudest for an individual's success, while also providing the strongest understanding and support through an individual's crisis.

At times, his selflessness was almost saddening; as it sometimes seemed like a burden he carried to ensure happiness among those around him. His compassion for others was unmatched, and his loyalty to friends was like nothing I have ever seen, nor will ever see again.

I loved Michael as a friend...I still speak to him in my times of need...and I am still so incredibly saddened that his life, his breath, and his beauty were stolen from us all.

This song is not for him. This song is for his family and for those who never had the opportunity to shake his hand."

Seeds of Greatness

Michael Patrick Murphy was an ordinary man with an extraordinary sense of duty, responsibility, and moral clarity. Such moral clarity and sense of duty had its roots in a God-fearing set of parents who sowed within him the seeds of greatness that granted him the wisdom and strength to answer a call that few will ever receive...History is replete with those rare individuals who when called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice do so willingly.

Inscribed in a Wheaton College classroom are the words, "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."  Despite our modern culture's obsession with winning and the rhetoric of subversion, was Michael Murphy's young life wasted, or did he know and understand something that we haven't yet figured out. Herein lies the real story. Michael Patrick Murphy clearly has it figured out. He voluntarily gave up an earthly life he could not keep in exchange for an eternal life he cannot lose--demonstrating the wisdom many never achieve.   SEAL of Honor, ppIX-XX

Naval Institute Press Top 10 Title

Since it's release on April 2, the softcover edition of SEAL of Honor has been a Top 10 bestseller for the Naval Institute Press.  Thank you to all our fans and friends.

Chief Petty Officer Nathan Hardy

On April 9, 2011 while attending the Northeast SEAL RDAC event at the Boys & Girls Club in Stanford, CT, I had the great honor to meet the parents of Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Nathan Hardy who was killed in Iraq in 2008. Steve and Donna Hardy, like their son, are pillars of uncompromising integrity and vocal proponents of our men and women in uniform. Steve Hardy's passionate words to the large crowd served as a source of encouragement and inspiration to both the SEAL candidates and their families.  We are looking forward to seeing them again soon at the christening of the USS Michael Murphy in Bath, ME.

Long Island Events

The author and Murphy family participated in four events the past few days...The Long Island Shields, New York office of the FBI, Northeast SEAL RDAC and the Holy Name Society. We were warmly received at each of the events and LT Murphy's legacy is being well maintained.

Be sure to keep up to date with the event schedule of Team Murphy on our web site.