helicopter was hit by an RPG and the other was forced to abort the mission, and there had been no further contact with Michael’s team.
Having just arrived at work, Beth Risotto received a call from Jimmie O’Callaghan telling her of Michael’s status. Being a close friend of Heather’s, she called her, but without having to ask, she knew that Heather was aware of the situation. Leaving work, she went to the Duggan home in Mount Sinai, located directly north across Long Island from Patchogue, where she stayed for the next week.
The next day the Murphy family had begun to mentally sort through the information they had received and also accept the fact that the worst possible news could be coming. The O’Callaghans assumed the duties of managing the overwhelming number of telephone calls and personal messages and donations; but despite their best efforts, there was no way to keep track of those who had called or sent contributions or dropped off food items. The dining room table was completely covered with fruit baskets and the living room full of flowers and planters. The kitchen table and counters were covered with food donated by caring individuals and businesses. As the national and international media intensified its coverage of the events in Afghanistan, local media had begun camping out at the Murphy home. In Mount Sinai, in between news broadcasts, Beth and Heather spent their time taking walks and telling “Murph” stories and returned to the Murphy home each evening.
Saturday, July 2, 2005
After speaking to NAVSPECWARCOM, Lieutenant Commander Muse explained to the Murphys that the Navy was tracking a single beacon moving down the mountain. Tentatively, Maureen asked, “So is this good news for the SEALs or for the Murphy family?” Cautiously, Muse responded, “The Murphy family.” While both exhaled with some relief, they knew that the relief was only temporary. Maureen turned to Dan as they realized that there appeared to be only one survivor and stated, “It’s not Mike. It’s not Mike. There is no way he would be the only one out.” Dan and Maureen realized that Michael’s character and integrity would not allow him to be the sole survivor. They knew that he would sacrifice himself to allow someone else to be the sole survivor, but it was simply not in Michael to be the only one out.
Muse explained that Michael and his team had been involved in an ambush. As Dan and Maureen processed the information they had received, Dan recalled his military training in Vietnam and asked if Michael’s team had been ambushed or if his team had executed the ambush. He knew that if Michael’s team had executed the ambush that they would have set the stage and environment in their favor—at night, with proper positioning and other tactical advantages. If they had walked into an ambush, that would not be good. Dan and Maureen continued to pray for the best but began to prepare themselves for the worst as the gravity and reality of the situation became more and more clear.
Around noon, Captain Andrew Bisset, a thirty-seven-year Navy SEAL veteran and Michael’s SEAL mentor, called to invite Michael to his upcoming retirement party in Groton, Connecticut. The family did not take his call; they believed it was another member of the media trying to get a family member on the telephone. Well acquainted with the family, Bisset was confused. He was aware of the situation in Afghanistan but did not know that Michael had been involved.
Sunday, July 3, 2005
Again having received very little sleep, the family attended morning Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, led by Father Robert O’Connell. Special prayers were offered for Michael, his team, and the entire Murphy family. They were overwhelmed by the expression of support from the more than twelve hundred parishioners in attendance. Following Mass, Dan and Karen went to Heather’s home. The Navy had previously dispatched Lieutenant Jim Quattromani to
Having just arrived at work, Beth Risotto received a call from Jimmie O’Callaghan telling her of Michael’s status. Being a close friend of Heather’s, she called her, but without having to ask, she knew that Heather was aware of the situation. Leaving work, she went to the Duggan home in Mount Sinai, located directly north across Long Island from Patchogue, where she stayed for the next week.
The next day the Murphy family had begun to mentally sort through the information they had received and also accept the fact that the worst possible news could be coming. The O’Callaghans assumed the duties of managing the overwhelming number of telephone calls and personal messages and donations; but despite their best efforts, there was no way to keep track of those who had called or sent contributions or dropped off food items. The dining room table was completely covered with fruit baskets and the living room full of flowers and planters. The kitchen table and counters were covered with food donated by caring individuals and businesses. As the national and international media intensified its coverage of the events in Afghanistan, local media had begun camping out at the Murphy home. In Mount Sinai, in between news broadcasts, Beth and Heather spent their time taking walks and telling “Murph” stories and returned to the Murphy home each evening.
Saturday, July 2, 2005
After speaking to NAVSPECWARCOM, Lieutenant Commander Muse explained to the Murphys that the Navy was tracking a single beacon moving down the mountain. Tentatively, Maureen asked, “So is this good news for the SEALs or for the Murphy family?” Cautiously, Muse responded, “The Murphy family.” While both exhaled with some relief, they knew that the relief was only temporary. Maureen turned to Dan as they realized that there appeared to be only one survivor and stated, “It’s not Mike. It’s not Mike. There is no way he would be the only one out.” Dan and Maureen realized that Michael’s character and integrity would not allow him to be the sole survivor. They knew that he would sacrifice himself to allow someone else to be the sole survivor, but it was simply not in Michael to be the only one out.
Muse explained that Michael and his team had been involved in an ambush. As Dan and Maureen processed the information they had received, Dan recalled his military training in Vietnam and asked if Michael’s team had been ambushed or if his team had executed the ambush. He knew that if Michael’s team had executed the ambush that they would have set the stage and environment in their favor—at night, with proper positioning and other tactical advantages. If they had walked into an ambush, that would not be good. Dan and Maureen continued to pray for the best but began to prepare themselves for the worst as the gravity and reality of the situation became more and more clear.
Around noon, Captain Andrew Bisset, a thirty-seven-year Navy SEAL veteran and Michael’s SEAL mentor, called to invite Michael to his upcoming retirement party in Groton, Connecticut. The family did not take his call; they believed it was another member of the media trying to get a family member on the telephone. Well acquainted with the family, Bisset was confused. He was aware of the situation in Afghanistan but did not know that Michael had been involved.
Sunday, July 3, 2005
Again having received very little sleep, the family attended morning Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, led by Father Robert O’Connell. Special prayers were offered for Michael, his team, and the entire Murphy family. They were overwhelmed by the expression of support from the more than twelve hundred parishioners in attendance. Following Mass, Dan and Karen went to Heather’s home. The Navy had previously dispatched Lieutenant Jim Quattromani to
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