US Navy destroyer dashes to conduct emergency medical evaluation

U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyer USS Michel Murphy (DDG 112) dashed from the Pearl Harbor-Hickam base to conduct an emergency medical evacuation of a sailor aboard sister ship USS Shoup (DDG 86).

Guided-missile destroyer Shoup notified the command on June 17 that a sailor on board required MEDEVAC.

As Shoup was over one thousand miles from shore, land was not within helicopter range to conduct the transfer, and U.S. Coast Guard District 14 did not have an asset in the area that could affect a rapid transfer of the sailor ashore. Michael Murphy, the 3rd Fleet duty ship, was directed to provide support.

Within hours, USS Michael Murphy sortied from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam with a Navy medical doctor from Hawaii embarked. While Michael Murphy made best speed to close within helicopter range of Shoup, the medical team aboard Shoup worked to keep the sailor stable.

Embarked Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35 launched an MH-60R helicopter from Shoup early in the morning June 18, to transfer the sailor to Michael Murphy. Once safely on board, Michael Murphy headed back to Hawaii and transferred the sailor and embarked doctor to Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) as soon as the ship was within helicopter range.

The Navy said the sailor is currently being treated by medical personnel at Tripler Army Medical Center.

Michael Murphy is named for Lt. (SEAL) Michael P. Murphy, a New York native who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during Operation Red Wing in Afghanistan in 2005. Murphy was the first person to be awarded the medal for actions in Afghanistan and the first member of the U.S. Navy to receive the award since the Vietnam War.