Remembering a Local Marine Hero on the Anniversary of His Death

My story begins more than a decade ago, 1996, when President Clinton made his first and only visit to Rockland County. At the time I was a member of the Rockland County Legislature and invited to be part of the welcoming Committee. The location was the Tallman Park in Palisades.

I shook the President's hand as he exited "Marine One", the official name of all our Presidents' helicopters, and as he left, I wandered over to "Marine One".

Standing by was a young Marine Pilot/Office who was obviously the President's personal Pilot. I introduced myself as a former Marine who was an Avionics Officer in the 2nd Marine Air Wing and asked if could I see the inside of the helicopter. The answer was a firm NO, but he was very respectful, warm and friendly. It led to a conversation I will never forget.

His name was Michael Murphy, born and raised in Blauvelt, attended Middle School in the South Orangetown School District and a graduate of St. Joseph's Regional High School in Montvale, the son of Annie and John Murphy, who was a veteran of the Korean War and getting too many telephone calls from angry residents intended for me.

The military was in his blood. His Paternal Grandfather Patrick Murphy, immigrated from County Kerry and fought in WW I. Before going to Korea, his father was assigned to guarding the Tomb Of the Unknown Soldier.

On December 11,2000, Michael was killed while test- piloting the newly designed Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey helicopter.It was a new genre of aircraft, It had tilt rotors for both vertical and traditional horizontal landing. Michael was only 38 and the father of a young daughter and son.

There was unprecedented controversy in the Government based on the high death rate of 23 Marines incurred in testing the new air weapon, but the Corps was determined and the Osprey is now its primary assault air weapon. It justified itself in the Near/Middle East combat zones.

Michael is buried in our National Arlington Cemetery Washington with the hundreds of thousands of American warriors who gave their lives for us.

The Pearl River Division III of the Ancient Order of Hibernians raised enough contributions, $10,000, to support a Memorial for Michael and the other three Marines who died in the crash in the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park overlooking the National Museum of the Marine Corps Marine adjacent to the Marine Base Quantico in Virginia, where I spent a year.

The local Ancient Order of Hibernians raised the money by hosting an evening in the Irish Cultural Center in Blauvelt. The then New York City Police Commissioner, Ray Kelly, who, like meows a Manhattan College Alum and Marine.

The Commissioner, also the Father of a Marine, was present to honor Michael and his Father who was a NYC Policeman upon coming home from Korea and his Grandfather Patrick, who also joined the NYC Police Department upon his return for Europe. As research revealed, Patrick Murphy was a Traffic Officer on Fordham Road across where I was born.

Christmas is a time for joy, hope, love but for many there are haunting memories of lost ones, who sacrificed their lives for us in a military uniform.