Army Staff Sgt. Michael C. Murphrey

Died September 6, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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25, of Snyder, Texas; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska; died Sept. 6 in FOB Sharana, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

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One of 5 Richardson paratroopers killed in 3 weeks

The Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An Alaska-based soldier from Texas has died in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense on Sept. 8 identified the soldier as Staff Sgt. Michael C. Murphrey, 25, of Snyder, Texas.

He died Sept. 6 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when his unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device.

Murphrey was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division at Fort Richardson in Anchorage.

Anchorage television station KTUU reports at least five Fort Richardson paratroopers have died in Afghanistan in three weeks.

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Always put others’ needs first, 1-star says

The Associated Press

Those who knew him say Michael C. Murphrey had all the qualities of a good soldier, including loyalty, respect and a selfless sense of service.

He always prioritized his comrades’ needs and did more than his share of the work, Brig. Gen. Keith Walker said at Murphrey’s memorial service, where hundreds of people packed the church and locals lined the streets, waving American flags.

The 25-year-old from Snyder, Texas, died Sept. 6 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, after enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

He graduated from Snyder High School in 2003 and joined the Army a few months later. He was assigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska, after spending time at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Mourners at the First Baptist Church of Clyde wiped away tears as a slideshow flashed images of Murphrey growing up, from his own infancy to the birth of his son, Jaden, and his daughter, Cameron.

Murphrey is also survived by his wife, Ashley; his parents, Elvie and Evelyn Murphrey; and his sisters Jeanie Rutherford, Wendy Stehouwer, Pearl McKay and Krisa Johnson.