OT: Bad News

[scirocco16vr32 at gmail.com (Chris Bennett)]

http://www.whptv.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=03b6a577-167c-41fc-905b-02291406fbfe

On 4/12/07, Chris Bennett <scirocco16vr32@gmail.com> wrote:
> All,
>    I just recieved some bad news.  Someone I served in the Navy with
> (in Italy) was killed in an IED attack near Bagdad.  He was married
> and had four children.  He was a devout Catholic.
>
> I for one am not a traditional religeous person.  Usually I pray when
> there's turbulance.  I think I will say a few words this evening.
>
> My family reported to USS Emory S. Land on the same day Mr.
> Murphy-Sweet and his family did.  For some unknown reason my report no
> later than date was the Friday before a three day weekend.  The Land
> was out to sea at the time so we checked into the "beach detachment"
> and we were put up in TLA (Temp Lodging Assignment).  They left us
> there all weekend (72 hours) with no food or water--the water wasn't
> potable--You have to buy bottled water.  Since there was also an
> Italian holiday at the time, most of the restaurants and stores were
> closed.  We couldn't communicate with the locals very well and were
> ignorant of local customs (reposo--like Mexico's siesta's).  We ended
> up living on the munchies we had left over from the 14 hour flight to
> Europe.
>
> Because of all that, and then going through all of the check-in stuff
> with them, I was fairly close to him and his family.  He was an
> officer and I was enlisted so an unduely familiar relationship (read
> that informal friendship) was more or less forbidden, so I always
> addressed him as Mister Murphy-Sweet, and "Sir", but there was an
> unspoken mutual respect there... closest thing we could have to a
> friendship.  He was a damn good officer that didn't believe he was
> better than the enlisted men he commanded.
>
> He also made sure nobody ever got left in TLA again without being checked on.
>
>
>
> From: Scott, Darryl A. MG JCC
> Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2007 4:29 PM
> To: JCCI_ALL
> Subject: Phil Murphy-Sweet
>
> All--_It is with deep regret that I inform you that JCC-I/A lost one
> of its most beloved and effective contracting officers yesterday. CDR
> Phillip A. Murphy-Sweet, USN, SC, was killed in an IED attack while
> traveling to the site of one of MNF-I's highest priority projects in
> the Rusafa district of Baghdad. Two private security personnel in the
> up-armored SUV with him were also killed, and their interpreter was
> seriously injured. We have already notified Phil's next of kin through
> official channels.
>
> Phil was a model officer, an innovative and energetic CCO, a wise and
> patient mentor and a beloved shipmate. He believed the best leaders
> lead from the front, not from behind a desk. He died doing what he
> believed in--making a difference through personal leadership,
> professional skill, and sheer will. _The project he was working
> on--establishing a safe location for the criminal courts of Iraq to
> prosecute terrorists and re-establish the rule of law--is critical to
> the Government of Iraq and had GEN Petraeus' personal interest. When
> others couldn't see a way ahead, Phil not only had the vision, he made
> it happen in just 25 days. He lived to see IOC on the project, and to
> see the first arraignment take place in the courthouse. Just three
> days ago, he escorted Senator Lindsay Graham through the facility, and
> the Senator left extremely impressed. Such results were typical for
> Phil.
>
> Last night I completed recommendations for the Purple Heart and the
> Navy Combat Action Award for Phil, and we are revising the Bronze Star
> recommendation we had already submitted to add the valorous action "V"
> device. I also received personal condolences from GEN Petraeus and LTG
> Dempsey, the MNSTC-I CG, whom Phil supported. Phil was a hero to them
> and to all of us, too. We will miss him deeply.
>
> We're working to get contact information for any of us who want to
> make a personal expression of sympathy. Please remember Phil's family,
> and the families of the two PSDs who were with him, in your prayers.
> Let's support and pray for one another through this period of grief
> too. We're not going through this alone; God sees us and cares for us,
> and we have each other's care as well. My prayers are for peace and
> comfort for you all.
>
> DARRYL A. SCOTT, MajGen, USAF
> Commanding General, Joint Contracting Command ?
> Iraq/Afghanistan & Head of Contracting Activity
>


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