OT: Bad News

[julie at menloparkrandd.com (julie@menloparkrandd.com)]

Its hard to lose those that make such a difference in our lives. 
What would the world be like, if our heros were more like him, than loud rappers and fat wrestlers.

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Chris Bennett [mailto:scirocco16vr32@gmail.com]
>Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2007 01:55 AM
>To: 'Scirocco List'
>Subject: OT: Bad News
>
>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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