On May 7, 2008, Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter announced that the United States Navy will name the newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in honor of Lt. Michael Murphy, a Navy Seal killed in action in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005. The USS Michael Murphy. DDG 112 will be the 62nd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. She is 509.5 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, displaces approximately 9,200 tons, has a crew size of 323 (23 officers and 300 enlisted) and she will make speed in excess of 30 knots.

A Navy SEAL, Murphy lead a four-man team tasked with finding a key Taliban leader in the mountainous terrain near Asadabad, Afghanistan, when they came under fire from a much larger enemy force with superior tactical position.

Mortally wounded while exposing himself to enemy fire, Murphy knowingly left his position of cover to get a clear signal in order to communicate with his headquarters. While being shot at repeatedly, Murphy calmly provided his unit's location and requested immediate support for his element. He returned to his cover position to continue the fight until finally succumbing to his wounds.

Lt. Michael Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during Operation Red Wing.