The Secretary of the Army of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Army Commendation Medal w/V to Corporal Michael Murray, United States Army, for meritorious achievement as the Team Leader of HUMINT Collection Team 334 during enemy engagements in Shaykhsaad Village and Rashidiyah. Corporal Murray’s selfless service and personal courage enabled his team to operate effectively under enemy fire and resulted in two confirmed enemy KIA and the detainment of nine armed insurgent fighters. His dedication to duty brings great credit upon him, the Phoenix Battalion, the Raider Brigade and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
Corporal Murray, the team leader of Human Intelligence Collection Team (HCT) 334, led his team through two separate engagements with Armed Insurgent Fighters (AIF) on 16 July and 21 September 2006. Corporal Murray personally pursued and detained two enemy personnel that were firing on U.S. Forces and assisted in the confiscation of two 9-mm. pistols, two fragmentation grenades, three PKCs, two RPGs, and fourteen AK-47 assault rifles, and multiple rounds of ammunition for each confiscated weapons system. On 21 September 2006, Corporal Murray received information about an attack on the Shaykh Sa’ad Village. He quickly informed the Patrol Leader and the patrol moved to Shaykh Sa’ad to investigate. Corporal Murray received direct small arms fire while conducting a dismounted patrol looking for the individuals responsible for the attack. He returned fire at the same time communicating the situation to the Patrol Leader. He pursued the enemy resulting in the detainment of two AIF members along with one 9-mm. pistol and three AK-47 assault rifles. On 16 July 2006, Corporal Murray received information about an attack at the Rashidiyah Police Station. He was manning his team’s crew served weapon as the patrol moved to the Police Station to investigate the attack. When the patrol began to receive small arms fire he quickly engaged the enemy with suppressive fire enabling Soldiers to maneuver back to the safety of their vehicles. The patrol then pursued the enemy and detained four AIF.