Fallen Soldier: Philip A. Murphy-Sweet

Navy Commander Philip A. Murphy-Sweet, 42, of Caldwell, Idaho, was operationally assigned to Joint Contracting Command, Multi-National Force – Iraq. He was deployed from his permanently assigned command of Naval Inventory Control Point in Mechanicsburg, Penn., to serve during Operation Iraqi Freedom. On April 7, 2007, he was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device in the Rusafa District of Baghdad.

Cdr. Murphy-Sweet started his career with the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. He enrolled in the University of Idaho's Naval ROTC program and was commissioned as an officer after his graduation in 1991. Cdr. Murphy-Sweet was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with Valor for his sacrifice. "Phil was a great guy. He gave everything 110 percent," said family friend Dr. Mark Michaud. "He was a great Naval officer and a great father.”

Cdr. Murphy-Sweet would make funny faces at his younger daughter from work via a Webcam, asked his son to keep his dad up to date on the latest gadgets, and discussed the trials of middle school life with his older daughter.

One of Cdr. Murphy-Sweet’s daughters is a Folds of Honor Scholarship recipient.