In memory of Michael Murphy

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield | SAN MARCOS, Guatemala – U.S. Army 1st Lt. Marion Spence, Task Force Red Wolf force protection officer, reaches the bottom of his 100th bodyweight squat while participating in the MURPH Challenge May 30, 2016, during Exercise BEYOND THE HORIZON 2016 GUATEMALA. A total of 300 squats are required to pass the challenge. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)  

GUATEMALA

05.31.2016

Story by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield 

4th Fighter Wing   

Memorial Day, May 30, 2016, five U.S. Army Soldiers embarked on a grueling physical training challenged called the MURPH at San Marcos, Guatemala during Exercise BEYOND THE HORIZON 2016 GUATEMALA.

The MURPH Challenge was created in memory of U.S. Navy Lt. Michael Murphy U.S. Navy SEAL, who died risking his life contacting the special operations force’s Quick Response Force located at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, when his team came under overwhelming enemy fire. Murphy was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his selfless actions during the battle.

The MURPH Challenge requires each competitor to perform a one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 pushups, 300 bodyweight squats followed by another one-mile run. The challenge is timed and Task Force Red Wolf’s winner was U.S. Army Spc. Edouard Sur, 213th Medical Company combat medic, with a time of 53 minutes, 11 seconds.

“It was a great honor to compete in this challenge,” said 1st Lt. Walter Rau, Task Force Red Wolf Forward Operating Base Alpha mayor. “Murphy was an exceptional warrior and I will compete again next year.”

• Date Taken: 05.31.2016
• Date Posted: 05.31.2016 15:39
• Story ID: 199571
• Location: GT