Leading Seaman Stephen ‘Spud’ Murphy
I’m posting this guy because of his name. He done good, too.
Leading Seaman Stephen ‘Spud’ Murphy was working as a member of the Naval Transition Team based in Umm Qasr when a fire broke out on the oil platform in August of last year.
The 41-year-old, from Ripon in Yorkshire, was aboard the United States Ship Ogden with the crew of an Iraqi Fast Aluminium Boat (FAB) when he witnessed the initial explosion on the KAAOT oil platform.
After assessing the situation he immediately took charge and having quickly commandeered the FAB he started searching for any survivors blown into the sea. Approaching the platform he saw two Iraqi marines and a civilian worker in the water. Leading Seaman Murphy said:
“They were all in a state of shock and bewilderment. I picked them up and transferred them to an American rigid inflatable boat, where they were given first aid and dry clothing.”
With the men safely in the hands of the Americans, Leading Seaman Murphy helped to evacuate the Iraqi Marines together with the civilian oil workers from the burning platform. He also transported vital fire fighting appliances to the vessel fighting the fire.
Once the fire was under control, Leading Seaman Murphy and the FAB crew helped set up a cordon around the platform to stop any other vessels getting too close and then assisted with the return of the Iraqi personnel to Umm Qasr Naval Base.
Having already received an award from the Iraqi Navy immediately after the incident, Leading Seaman Murphy has now been presented with a commendation by the Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent in recognition of his brave actions.
“It’s a real honour to receive a commendation and I’m pleased that by being out there we are helping to train the Iraqi Navy to react in similar situations,” explained Leading Seaman Murphy. “The two Iraqi marines came down to our base in Umm Qasr every couple of weeks afterwards to thank me.
“They brought their parents and said that I am now an honorary member of their families. At the time of the incident it was quite scary. Certainly something different from my normal job and I was just glad I was in the right place and able to help.”
Leading Seaman Murphy, who has been in the Royal Navy for 15 years, is due to take up an appointment at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall in July where he will be passing on his vast experience to the Royal Navy’s newest recruits.
