APR - Bath Iron Works

Trek to SEAL TerritoryWhen Terry Smith (D19) wasassigned to work on DDG 112over a year ago, he learned thestory of LT Michael Murphy, USN,a NavySEAL and the ship’s namesake. That storyincluded Operation Red Wings, the 2005battle in Afghanistan that took the lives ofthree of the four members of the SEALteam present, including LT MichaelMurphy, as well as sixteen special operativeswho were part of a rescue operation.Terry dedicated his ride and his fundraisingin the Trek Across Maine last summerto the memory of LT Murphy and histeammates. At the May 2011 christeningof DDG 112, Terry met Michael Murphy’sparents and described his plans for theupcoming Trek event. Speaking of herson, Maureen Murphy told Terry, “Hecontinues to bring out the best in people.”This year, Terry plans to again ride theTrek and has doubled his goal, bolsteredby support from members of the MichaelMurphy PCU crew. CDR Tom Shultz, thePCU Commanding Officer, plans to ride theTrek and other crew members may jointhem as well.In March of this year, not long aftercompleting DDG 112 sea trials, Terry andhis wife, Karen (D05) visited San Diego ona family vacation. He thought it would beof interest to take a few DDG 112-relateditems to the SEAL community at NavalSpecial Warfare Command in nearbyCoronado and once back home, to shareaspects of that visit with BIW’s shipbuilders.Terry met with LCDR Mike Uyboco,Operations Director for SEAL School anda one time teammate of Michael Murphy.He also met with RADM Garry Bonelli,who led a SEAL team in Desert Shield andDesert Storm, was recalled to active dutyin 2006 and is now on extended recall asDeputy Force Commander of Naval SpecialWarfare Command. Terry shared photosfrom DDG 112 sea trials, stories of theship and how it is coming together, andpresented the SEALs with a banner fromlast year’s Trek event which was signed onthe reverse by many of the people, BIW,Navy and contractors alike, who wereonboard DDG 112 trials.In a letter of appreciation, shown above,RADM Bonelli said, “Your obvious andwell-deserved pride and enthusiasm inbuilding USS Michael Murphy from thekeel up speaks volumes about you and yourcoworkers at Bath Iron Works….The“Murph” will serve as a very visible symbolof our Nation’s strength, our rich Navylegacy, our Navy SEALs, and of course, theskilled labor of themen and women whobuilt her at Bath IronWorks, where “BathBuilt is Best Built.”Terry said, “It wasa great visit, everyonewas welcoming andeager to learn aboutthe ship that will carryLT Murphy’s name.”A Navy veteran himself,Terry said, “WhenI prepared for the Treklast year I was inspiredby LT Murphy’s storyand wanted to share it.I also wanted to showothers that BIW peoplehave a lot of pride in thequality and capability ofthe ships that we build.LT Murphy was knownas “The Protector.” Ithink it means a lot tothe Navy SEAL communityto know thatwe are building a mighty ship that willserve and protect its men and womenwhile honoring LT Murphy and the menof Operation Red Wings.”Terry Smith (white shirt), assisted by his granddaughter, presented RADM Bonelli with items associated with DDG112 sea trials, including a DDG 112 banner rolled out by Karen Smith which Terry used during the 2011 TrekAcross Maine and which was signed on the reverse by many participants during DDG 112 trials.BIW NEWS | April 2012 | 9