Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, commander of XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg shakes hands with Maj. Brendan P. Murphy, of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, after presenting him with the Distinguished Flying Cross Monday, at the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum on Feb. 7, 2012. Murphy, then a captain assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Brigade, distinguished himself by rescuing ground forces while under enemy fire as the Air Mission Command and pilot in command of a CH-47D helicopter, Sept. 5, 2010, during Operation Enduring Freedom X. Murphy is joined by his wife, Capt. Katherine Murphy of the Fort Bragg Judge Advocate Corps. Photo by Tina Ray, Paraglide newspaper |
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Feb. 7, 2012) -- Capt. Brendan P. Murphy, of
Company B, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Brigade, distinguished
himself as the air mission command and pilot in command of a CH-47D
helicopter, Sept. 5, 2010, during Operation Enduring Freedom X, in
Afghanistan.
In the face of enemy fire and under hazardous
weather conditions, Murphy, another pilot and crewmembers reinforced
and extracted troops from a deadly combat zone, saving the lives of
132 Soldiers.
A staff sergeant on the ground has testified
that Murphy and his team's disregard for safety makes them true
American heroes.
For that heroism, Murphy, who is now a major
assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, was
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Feb. 6, in a ceremony at the
82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum.
Murphy's actions
were uncommon and extraordinary, said Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick,
commander of XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort |
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Bragg. |
They are an indication of what makes Murphy "different,"
Helmick said.
"He did what he thought was right . . .
'I will never leave a fallen comrade in the hands of the
enemy,' said Helmick, reiterating the Soldiers
creed. "You saved hundreds of lives and America is very,
very proud of you for what you have done," Helmick said.
But, Murphy was quick to credit his team members for the
heroic act.
"I am humbled to have received this
award. I was not flying alone that day," he said. "We did it
as a team."
Col. Mark L. Stock, 1st BCT's commander,
said Murphy sets an example for other leaders.
"It's
important for all Soldiers to see the example he set in his
leadership and personally in that pursuit of courage," Stock
said after the ceremony. "As a commander, I feel confident
with leaders like him, and there are many out there. He
provides a great example."
The Distinguished Flying
Cross was created by Congress 80 years ago and is America's
oldest military aviation award.
The first recipient
of the DFC medal was Charles A. Lindbergh, then a captain in
the Army Reserve. It was awarded to him in 1927 to recognize
his transatlantic crossing in the Spirit of St. Louis.
Murphy is a native of Port Murray, N.J., and a 2002
graduate of the United States Military Academy at West
Point. He is married to Capt. Katherine Murphy of the Judge
Advocate Corps at Fort Bragg. Murphy said he intends to
continue his service to the nation.
"I will keep
doing my job. I enjoy being in the military and I enjoy
working with the Soldiers every day," he said.
By Tina Ray, Paraglide newspaper
Army News Service
Copyright 2012
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