“This ship is also supporting activities under the United States Oceania Maritime Security initiative which is dedicated to advancing maritime security.”
Those are the words of United States Ambassador to Fiji Judith Cefkin while opening the welcome reception on the guided missile destroyer, USS Michael Murphy which arrived in Suva yesterday for a routine port visit.
Ambassador Cefkin says although the ship is still relatively new as it was commissioned in 2012, the ship has a very distinguished pedigree.
She says that the ship is named after the late Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy.
The late Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan 28th June, 2005.
While in the Pacific, the USS Michael Murphy which has a crew of 350 will conduct Oceania Maritime Security Initiative activities in support of Pacific Island nations’ maritime law enforcement operations.
Meanwhile, the crew of the USS Michael Murphy played a friendly soccer match with a combined Police and Army team earlier today at the Nasova Police Academy.
The crew of the USS Michael Murphy lost to the combined Fiji and Army team 6-2.
