Introduction
On June 28, 2005, a small Navy SEAL reconnaissance team operating in the Hindu Kush mountains of eastern Afghanistan faced a brutal and unexpected battle. Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, leading the four-man element, displayed extraordinary leadership and selflessness that day. His actions during Operation Red Wings saved lives and left a lasting legacy of courage and sacrifice.
The mission and the moment it went wrong
The team’s objective was to locate and observe Ahmad Shah, an insurgent leader operating near the Pakistan border. Murphy, Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Danny Dietz, Sonar Technician 2nd Class Matthew Axelson, and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell were trained for stealth and endurance, operating at roughly 10,000 feet in unforgiving terrain. Despite their training, local villagers likely reported the SEALs’ position, and the team was soon engaged by a numerically superior enemy force occupying higher ground and several advantageous firing positions.
How Lt. Murphy responded
Faced with a three-sided ambush and overwhelming odds, the four operators fought with discipline under intense fire. As ammunition dwindled and casualties mounted, Dietz attempted to make a distress call but was wounded and unable to complete the transmission. Recognizing the desperate need for outside assistance, Murphy took decisive action. He left cover, exposed to enemy fire, to obtain a clear signal and transmit the team?s location and the size of the hostile force to the Quick Reaction Force at Bagram.
Murphy repeatedly risked his life to call for help, enabling a response that would ultimately save one teammate and recover the others.
During the transmission, he was struck by enemy fire, dropped the radio, retrieved it, and completed the call before returning to his team. His deliberate exposure and willingness to absorb risk for the sake of his teammates embodied the highest standards of battlefield leadership.
The broader engagement and aftermath
U.S. forces dispatched an MH-47 Chinook carrying reinforcements and a Night Stalker assault team to extract and reinforce the beleaguered SEALs. The helicopter, approaching a hot landing zone in daylight, was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, killing all sixteen personnel aboard. On the ground, after a protracted firefight lasting hours, Murphy, Axelson, and Dietz were killed. Marcus Luttrell survived, grievously wounded, and managed to evade capture by traveling through harsh terrain until local villagers aided him. He was rescued days later.
Key facts and timeline
- Mission date: June 28, 2005.
- Location: Hindu Kush mountains, east of Asadabad, Afghanistan.
- Team: Lt. Michael P. Murphy, GM2 Danny Dietz, ST2 Matthew Axelson, HM2 Marcus Luttrell.
- Enemy force: Estimated more than 50 insurgents occupying higher ground.
- Outcome: Three SEALs killed, one survivor; 16 additional U.S. personnel killed in helicopter shoot-down.
Why Murphy’s actions matter
Murphy?s willingness to expose himself to enemy fire to call for assistance changed the course of the engagement. His radio transmission provided critical tactical information, enabling a rapid but tragically costly response. Crucially, the distress call set in motion rescue and recovery actions that contributed to Marcus Luttrell?s eventual survival and the retrieval of the fallen. For his conduct, Lt. Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Leadership lessons from Operation Red Wings
- Responsibility under fire: Leaders may be called to accept personal risk for the welfare of their teams.
- Decisive action matters: Even small decisions can have outsized effects in chaotic environments.
- Preparedness and training: High-stakes operations test equipment, communication, and human resolve.
- Cost of operational exposure: The mission highlighted risks of inserting forces into exposed landing zones without sufficient suppression or concealment.
Legacy and remembrance
Lt. Murphy’s story resonates beyond military history. It is taught in leadership courses, memorialized in ceremonies, and honored through awards and memorials. His sacrifice is a reminder that heroism often involves choosing what is right despite certain danger. Families, teammates, and fellow service members continue to honor his memory through scholarships, memorials, and public commemorations that reinforce the values he demonstrated.
Conclusion
Operation Red Wings was one of the most costly special operations engagements of the post-9/11 era. Amid the tragedy, Lt. Michael P. Murphy’s actions stand out as an example of courage, leadership, and self-sacrifice. His deliberate decision to expose himself to ensure his team could call for help exemplifies the highest ideals of duty and service. The story of Murphy and his teammates endures, reminding future generations of the burdens and bravery inherent in protecting others.
