In Their Own Words: Michael Murphy
Making Christmas Bright for the Murphy family
How CSAH helped Sgt. Michael Murphy put presents under the tree
Sgt. Michael Murphy ,U.S. Army (Ret.), returned home after being injured to a completely different lifestyle. Instead of being in combat and seeing a steady paycheck, he could not work and was left to maintain his 30 year-old house and property. He did not think he could give his three children gifts for Christmas until the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes (CSAH) stepped in.
Before the injury
Murphy first enlisted in the U.S. Army in January of 1998. Murphy was deployed to Afghanistan in August 2002 under the 82nd Airborne Division. While overseas, he served as a fire team leader for the Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Sgt. Murphy’s deployment was cut short in January 2003. While leading his soldiers on a patrol to investigate a ridge line, he stepped on a land mine and suffered serious injuries. These injuries resulted in an amputation at his right ankle. Murphy was sent back to the United States to recover in the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.
A Never-ending Struggle
Murphy was released from Walter Reed after several months, but his recovery was by no means over. “I keep hoping I will continue to heal,” he said. “But I haven’t seen any improvements since about a year ago. I think I have recovered as much as I ever will.”
Murphy’s troubles were not limited to his physical injuries. In addition to his amputation, he faced even more painful family problems. He and his wife went through a divorce, and the lives of Murphy and his three children were turned upside down.
The divorce and Murphy’s injury led to a problematic financial situation for the family. Murphy has a 100 percent VA disability rating, and has been unable to work since his medical discharge. “Keeping up with the maintenance of our 30 year-old house on my fixed income proved almost impossible,” Murphy remembered. “I wanted to provide the best for my kids Matthew, Kylee, and Gauge, but there are not many job options for wounded veterans.”
“The Coalition Remembers, Again and Again”
With December rapidly approaching and Murphy still on a fixed income, the holidays looked bleak for his family. Then Murphy heard about the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes from one of his veteran friends. When the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization which provides support for struggling veterans contacted him, he did not expect much. Thus, when he received a $500 check in the mail from the Coalition just before Christmas he was shocked.
“The timing of CSAH was impeccable,” Murphy remembers. “I was able to buy gifts for my kids that I would not have been able to give them otherwise. Christmas morning was memorable because of CSAH.”
The Murphy’s have received several checks from the Coalition since that first Christmas. Support from CSAH has allowed Murphy to continue his retirement with less financial strain. He is now a full-time dad and is very active in his area’s Boy Scout troop.
Murphy describes the Coalition as “an amazing resource for knowledge on how to get assistance and still maintain your pride.” His experience with CSAH so far to be has been so positive that he hopes to get more involved with other programs they offer, such as the Road to Recovery Conference in Orlando, Florida.
Murphy could not be more grateful for the assistance the Coalition continues to provide for his family. “I am so appreciative to CSAH for helping my family through a tough time,” he said. “Most people forget about wounded veterans after the evening news. But the Coalition remembers, again and again.”