garciap77
09-09-2009, 06:21 AM
Snyder soldier killed in action
■ Staff sergeant told his family of premonition
CELINDA EMISON
emisonc@reporternews.com / 325-676-6787
CLYDE — On his last visit home, Staff Sgt. Michael Chance Murphrey hinted that he didn’t think he would come home from Af_ghanistan.
“ He had lost a good buddy over there in July, and he told me he had a bad gut feeling,” said his young_est sister, Krisa Johnson, 21, of Fort Carson, Colo.
A U. S. fl ag flew at half_staff Tuesday at his sister’s home in Clyde, a traditional family gathering place. He was killed in action in Af_ghanistan on Sunday.
Murphrey, 25, died in the Waza Khawa North District of Paktika Province, killed by an improvised explosive device while on a dismount_ed patrol, according to U. S. Army officials.
He was described as an outstanding and loving hero by family and friends. He was a husband, father, son and brother, and uncle to 12 nieces and nephews.
The family received a visit from two military personnel early Monday, who first broke the news to Murphrey’s wife, Ashley Murphrey, in Georgia on Sunday night.
His death was a painful blow for his entire family, still in shock Tuesday, includ_ing his oldest sister, Jeanie Rutherford, and his mother and father, Elvie and Evelyn Murphrey, all of Clyde.
“ My mom was holding his picture early Monday and saying he was going to call,” Jeanie Rutherford said.
Family members recalled with sadness his last two-week visit home in late July and early August.
" He just wanted to stay out here," Jeanie Rutherford said. "He was taking in anything he could."
Murphrey married his wife, Ashley Martin, in 2005, and the couple had two children, Jaden, 4, and Cameron, 10 months.
"It is so sad for his children," Jeanie Rutherford said. "He loved his children so."
A 2003 graduate of Snyder High School, Murphrey ran track and played football from grades nine through 12 . Remembered as an accomplished athlete, he was named to the first team alldistrict football at defensive end and defensive tackle. He also ran hurdles and the 400 meters in track.
"I became head football coach during his junior year but coached him in track from the ninth grade," said head coach and athletic director Chad Rogers. "He was a good kid who never got in trouble - it is a tough loss."
Rogers said the mood at Snyder High School was gloomy Monday as news of Murphrey's death made the rounds.
But those who remembered him Tuesday recalled a fun- loving person who wasn't afraid to try daring feats such as skydiving.
The family took him skydiving for his 17th birthday, and after that, he decided he wanted to be an Army paratrooper.
" We were all together that day - it was one of the greatest days of our lives," Jeanie Rutherford said.
Johnson agreed.
"He was a stunt man; he loved riding motorcycles and four-wheelers," he said. " He was passionate about anything he ever did."
Fishing was another passion, and Murphrey "loved to deep sea fish," said Adam Rutherford, his brother-in-law.
His best friend, Brad English, played footballand ran track with Murphrey and said the two did everything together before he was deployed.
"He was pretty much like my big brother," said English, 23, of Snyder. "He was always happy and would do anything for anybody."
His other sibling, Wendy Stehouwer of Waxahachie, recalled meeting her brother at Fort Bragg several years ago when he returned from Iraq.
"He was loving, and we loved him back," Stehouwer said.
She added that even though the family is grieving, they are not angry with the Army.
"He believed in being in the Army and serving his country," Stehouwer said. " He knew what he signed up for."
Even so, Murphrey had begun to make plans for when he got out of the service.
" He said he wanted to move the family to Austin and go to school," Adam Rutherford said.
Murphrey's body was to be in Dover, Del., by Tuesday night. Then it will be f lown to Dyess Air Force Base. The service, under the direction of Bailey-Howard Funeral Home in Clyde, is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 16.
Murphrey was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division at Forward Operating Base Sharnana. The brigade is home- based at Fort Richardson,Alaska. He joined the Army in October 2003, served at Fort Bragg, N.C., and arrived at Fort Richardson in April 2008.
Murphrey was on his third tour of duty after enlisting in the Army in 2003. He did two tours in Iraq and was deployed to Afghanistan in March, family members said.
He earned six medals of valor during his three tours.
■ Staff sergeant told his family of premonition
CELINDA EMISON
emisonc@reporternews.com / 325-676-6787
CLYDE — On his last visit home, Staff Sgt. Michael Chance Murphrey hinted that he didn’t think he would come home from Af_ghanistan.
“ He had lost a good buddy over there in July, and he told me he had a bad gut feeling,” said his young_est sister, Krisa Johnson, 21, of Fort Carson, Colo.
A U. S. fl ag flew at half_staff Tuesday at his sister’s home in Clyde, a traditional family gathering place. He was killed in action in Af_ghanistan on Sunday.
Murphrey, 25, died in the Waza Khawa North District of Paktika Province, killed by an improvised explosive device while on a dismount_ed patrol, according to U. S. Army officials.
He was described as an outstanding and loving hero by family and friends. He was a husband, father, son and brother, and uncle to 12 nieces and nephews.
The family received a visit from two military personnel early Monday, who first broke the news to Murphrey’s wife, Ashley Murphrey, in Georgia on Sunday night.
His death was a painful blow for his entire family, still in shock Tuesday, includ_ing his oldest sister, Jeanie Rutherford, and his mother and father, Elvie and Evelyn Murphrey, all of Clyde.
“ My mom was holding his picture early Monday and saying he was going to call,” Jeanie Rutherford said.
Family members recalled with sadness his last two-week visit home in late July and early August.
" He just wanted to stay out here," Jeanie Rutherford said. "He was taking in anything he could."
Murphrey married his wife, Ashley Martin, in 2005, and the couple had two children, Jaden, 4, and Cameron, 10 months.
"It is so sad for his children," Jeanie Rutherford said. "He loved his children so."
A 2003 graduate of Snyder High School, Murphrey ran track and played football from grades nine through 12 . Remembered as an accomplished athlete, he was named to the first team alldistrict football at defensive end and defensive tackle. He also ran hurdles and the 400 meters in track.
"I became head football coach during his junior year but coached him in track from the ninth grade," said head coach and athletic director Chad Rogers. "He was a good kid who never got in trouble - it is a tough loss."
Rogers said the mood at Snyder High School was gloomy Monday as news of Murphrey's death made the rounds.
But those who remembered him Tuesday recalled a fun- loving person who wasn't afraid to try daring feats such as skydiving.
The family took him skydiving for his 17th birthday, and after that, he decided he wanted to be an Army paratrooper.
" We were all together that day - it was one of the greatest days of our lives," Jeanie Rutherford said.
Johnson agreed.
"He was a stunt man; he loved riding motorcycles and four-wheelers," he said. " He was passionate about anything he ever did."
Fishing was another passion, and Murphrey "loved to deep sea fish," said Adam Rutherford, his brother-in-law.
His best friend, Brad English, played footballand ran track with Murphrey and said the two did everything together before he was deployed.
"He was pretty much like my big brother," said English, 23, of Snyder. "He was always happy and would do anything for anybody."
His other sibling, Wendy Stehouwer of Waxahachie, recalled meeting her brother at Fort Bragg several years ago when he returned from Iraq.
"He was loving, and we loved him back," Stehouwer said.
She added that even though the family is grieving, they are not angry with the Army.
"He believed in being in the Army and serving his country," Stehouwer said. " He knew what he signed up for."
Even so, Murphrey had begun to make plans for when he got out of the service.
" He said he wanted to move the family to Austin and go to school," Adam Rutherford said.
Murphrey's body was to be in Dover, Del., by Tuesday night. Then it will be f lown to Dyess Air Force Base. The service, under the direction of Bailey-Howard Funeral Home in Clyde, is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 16.
Murphrey was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division at Forward Operating Base Sharnana. The brigade is home- based at Fort Richardson,Alaska. He joined the Army in October 2003, served at Fort Bragg, N.C., and arrived at Fort Richardson in April 2008.
Murphrey was on his third tour of duty after enlisting in the Army in 2003. He did two tours in Iraq and was deployed to Afghanistan in March, family members said.
He earned six medals of valor during his three tours.