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In Troy, mourning for a fallen Marine
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By MELANIE PLENDA
Union Leader Correspondent
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009
TROY – A local resident who joined the Marines shortly after high school died in Iraq on Sunday, sparking grief among childhood friends and sending his mother on a long trip to Delaware to claim his body.
A picture of the flag-draped coffin of Staff Sgt. Stephen L. Murphy, 36, being transferred off a plane in Dover, Del., was released, but little else. So far, there's been no word on how, where or why Murphy died in Iraq.
Childhood friends had lost touch with Murphy. But yesterday they mourned a friend who grew up with them in Troy, a former mill town of about 2,060 in southern Cheshire County.
"He was the kind of guy that you wished was your brother and not just your friend," said childhood friend John Covey.
"He had a tough upbringing," Mark Shackett said. "But you know, he would always put a positive spin on everything. . . .He grew up with a single mom and that's the way things were. He didn't really have anybody, except us. I think it forced him to grow up faster than the rest of us."
Murphy's father left when he was young. Covey said no one's sure how much time Murphy ever got to spend with his sister.
"We really leaned on each other," Shackett said. "We'd spend weeks together, just hanging out as friends. You can't put a value on those times."
Shackett said Murphy was the rational one, who often talked his friends out of pointless daring behavior. At Monadnock Regional in Swanzey, Murphy met Covey. After some initial head-butting, the two struck up a deep friendship. Murphy went to live with the Coveys and stayed for seven years.
A Marine carry team carries a transfer case containing the remains of Marine Staff Sgt. Stephen L. Murphy on Monday at Dover Air Force Base, Del. (AP)
At the time, he had dropped out of school. After a talk with Covey's father, John, Murphy decided to join the Marines. He started training, returned to school in Jaffrey and went from a skinny 108 pounds to a chiseled 165, Covey said.
In 1992, he had a diploma and a Marine enlistment form in hand.
The friends all tried to contact Murphy at various times. About five years ago, Covey tried sending him a letter. The Marines replied, saying Murphy was in a special operations unit; he was safe, and that was all they could release.
Earlier this year, independent of each other, they each tried once again to get in touch.
"I had a bad feeling," Shackett said. "After hearing all that was going on in Iraq, I just had a feeling it would end up like this."
By Monday night, all the friends had gotten the call. The local American Legion hall set up a candle light vigil.
"I wonder what his life was like now," Shackett said. "I mean maybe he got married? Maybe he had someone, maybe, maybe. I don't know. What was he doing when he died? I don't know. I don't know. . . .He was one of those great friends."
►List of NH soldiers killed during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars
►Manchester native Lt. Gen. Cone comforts troops at Fort Hood ceremony (1)
►Silence suits Mont Vernon Marine captain (17)
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YOUR COMMENTS
We are going to be in Iraq for many years to come else our US Representatives would/could cut off funding back in 2007 and even now. Those defending our freedom need to be honored. For unlike Vietnam, the terrorist we fight now will and have come to our country and attack out citizens- it is their goal/promise. SSG Murphy was doing his duty to stop them and keep us safe!
- Mike, Goffstown
Lest we forget on this Veterans Day, those who went before us. I offer my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to those who fought and continue to fight for the good of others. God bless our brave men and women, past, present and future.
"When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say…….For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today" John Maxwell Edmonds (1875 -1958), for the Kohima Epitaph WW1
- Annah, Austin, TX/Londonderry, NH
Let us never forget this solider for his sacrafice for our freedom, and the freedom of others. He fought for us, and for the right of some of you Sally's to sit behind your computers only to complain about situations that are obviously way above your level of thinking.
Thank you Devil Dog, Semper Fi brother!!!
For that matter, thank you to all the vets, especially those of the nam era, I'm sorry you never got the home coming you so well deserved!!!
- J, Hooksett
My SHARP hand-salute to you S/Sgt Stephen L. Murphy! Marines do not die until they are forgotten; you will live forever.
- Fred Christie Sgt of Marines 66-72, Goffstown
Semper Fi, Staff Sgt Murphy. As a poster before me said, troops are dying and Generals have asked for more troops. They've been met with silence by a failed "President" while more troops die. Now we have muslim terrorists here at home shooting our troops as well and what do we get from our "President?" We get obstructionism of an investigation while the state run media white washes the fact that this was a terrorist attack and demonizes anyone who disagrees with them. We can't survive as a nation this way. This paints a picture to me that the "President" cares more about the Fort Hood muslim terrorist than he does about the troops that terrorist murdered or the men dying oversees. I'm sure the left wing moonbats will again disagree, but they live in a magical world of make-believe.
- Mike, Temple
Thanks to SSG Murphy, USMC for his sacrifice. We remain in awe of our brave young men and women who continue to go in harms way to fight an enemy that declared war on us a long time ago. Such courage continues in spite of the selfish political hacks and sheep who live in this great country and fail to recognize either the threat against us or the courage of those who attempt to eliminate it.
As SSG Murphy's remains come home, would it be possible for all of us to post positive comments in thanks on this Veteran's Day and leave your political garbage out until after his burial?
Is that asking too much?
- Melvin, Keene
Thank you SSGT Murphy.Our hearts and prayers to you, your family and friends.
Keith and Tina
- Ketih, Hinsdale
What a waste of our Military and National Treasure in Irag...I hope the former President George W. Bush can finally see what a mess he made.......
- Fred, Bristol
Our men and women are dying in the line of duty because a general asked for more troops and our so-called President is taking his sweet time deciding.
The more manning we have over there, the quicker this will end.
Just leaving is no longer an option. The terrorists will not just leave us alone if we leave them alone. So quickly we forget about 9/11.
- John, Manchester
peace for all humanbeing
- kahn, Manchester
Heartfelt prayers of comfort to the family, loved ones, and comrades of Staff Sgt. Murphy. Thank you to all of our military for selfless service to this country and to the future of our children.
- Deb, Pelham
We're fighting to keep the radical militant terrorists pinned down in the middle east instead of over here.
- Jack Alex, Manchester
It is sad that people are still dying overseas. Neither war is of necessity, just like Vietnam wasn't (a war I was in). The Bush's made the policies concerning pictures of caskets as they wanted to hide the damage. Obama changed the policy. During World War II we put military flag-draped caskets in ads in "Life" to sell war bonds!
- Dan Wayment, Manchester
How very sad. These pictures really hit home. I thought we werent supposed to see flag drapped coffins? What happened?
- Jake, Manchester
Semper Fi, SSGT Murphy
- Robert W, Manchester
I am tired of seeing and attending funerals for our men and women killed in the line of duty.
It is time to bring our troops home so that we are not in another Viet Nam.
I guess the song that we used in the '70s is still true today..1,2,3, what are we fighting for..
Honor the troops by bringing them home!
- Rich, New Hampton
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