Long Island Museum Inspired By Hero Sailor Teaches Elite U.S. Navy SEALs' Evolution

WEST SAYVILLE, NY — When visitors walk into the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum on Long Island they are greeted by a life-size replica of Universal Pictures' Creature from the Black Lagoon holding a sign with the words, "So, you want to be a frogman?"

It's a nod to the first statue given by the 1963 class of the elite military unit to the Naval Special Warfare Command upon graduation. But the evolution of the SEALs — with a moniker standing for Sea, Air, and Land — has always been dramatized by Hollywood, up until now, the leaders of the foundation in Murphy's honor hope.

Though the namesake of Murphy, who fell in Afghanistan in 2005, the museum outlines the history of the unit from Underwater Demolition Teams, known as "frogmen," with barely any equipment in World War II, on up through the Vietnam conflict with the formation of the SEALs, to the present day's unit, which now deploys K-9 handlers famous after the early morning raid on Osama Bin Laden's compound.

"You get all of the cool, crazy things that you see on TV, but it gives a more in-depth perspective of the historical importance," said museum director Chris Wyllie, a former SEAL from Team 2, in a tour on Veteran's Day on Friday.

"The roots of the SEALs come from UDTs in World War II and D-Day — there's a lot of facts that people don't know and involvement that people don't know that the UDTs and the SEALs were involved with because it was never spoken about."

There were movies, of course, Wyllie explained, but the importance of the unit's involvement was never "discussed or brought to light."

It's not well-known that the SEALs were integral in assisting NASA's astronauts returning from space. Or that seven — including Murphy — have been given the Medal of Honor.

"We get to speak and tell about their stories," said Wyllie, who now lives in Center Moriches with his family. "It's the full history, and most times when speaking with people or give tours, probably everybody that I listen to, they are saying at the end how moving it is to be here and go through this and how they didn't know, something that was maybe not shocking, but they were like, 'Wow, I never knew that, and I didn't realize that.'"

The Long Island Maritime Museum in West Sayville serves as its fitting location.

It is the only museum of its kind in the northeast, with the other museum being situated in Florida.

Murphy's father, Dan, a Vietnam veteran who was wounded in action, says the museum "actually captures the spirit of all" of the unit because it tells the story of the Navy's special warfare command from its beginnings in World War II up to the present day."

Murphy, who grew up in Patchogue, was killed during Operation Red Wings while trying to call for help, exposing himself to enemy fire for his teammates' sake. Only one of the four survived the attack. A total of 19 U.S. military, including 11 SEALs and Army Night Stalkers, were killed.

Marcus Luttrell later penned a book, "Lone Survivor," that was turned into a movie starring Mark Walberg as Luttrell, and Taylor Kitsch as Murphy.

Murphy was later posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and was given the rare honor of having a Navy destroyer, the U.S.S. Michael Murphy, named in his honor.

But Dan Murphy refuses to call the museum a legacy to his son only.

"It's a legacy to all of our Navy SEALs, and that was its purpose," he said, adding, "Not that it was a legacy to Michael, though Michael is contained within here because he was a member of the community."

"It's about the Navy special warfare operators who protect us each and every day," Dan Murphy said.

The museum contains interactive exhibits featuring video and displays showing the SEALs meager beginnings diving with nothing more than swimming trunks and a knife to the training used to prepare them for combat, as well as the weapons and apparatus they use in deployment.

There is also a separate section with a 9/11 exhibit featuring a piece of steel from the Twin Towers. It was after the 2001 terror attacks that Murphy decided to forgo law school and join the SEALs.

Items once used by Murphy such as his dress blue uniform and his scuba gear are on display. His Medal of Honor is also on display in the front lobby. The museum also features a video about Murphy's life featuring his family and others who knew him.

One of the bigger historical features of the museum is a large-scale model showing the layout of the battle that led to Murphy's death, as well as that of his teammates, Matt Axelson, and Danny Dietz. It also shows photographs of the wild and brutal terrain that they were killed in, along with personal photos of those involved in the fateful mission.

One of the big draws for children is a submarine simulator ride that gives passengers a glimpse into a 3-D view of the fast-paced life undersea as they are jostled about in a gallery complete with special effects like wind and mist.

The museum took about seven years to curate as it was going through the planning and approval stages, and there still is more in the works. Officials are working on getting a movie featuring a Navy SEAL underwater excursion to go along with the 3-D simulator ride. They are also planning on including some more weaponry and apparatus, including a helicopter on the grounds outside.

Retired Suffolk police officer Steve Bardak, of Smithtown, took in the museum with his son, Andrew, a former member of the Lt. Michael Murphy Sea Cadets who was on leave from West Point Military Academy for the weekend.

Bardak says he plays golf nearby and had been watching as the museum was under construction, so the pair decided to check it out for Veteran's Day, adding, "This place is unbelievable."

"We saw it being built for years now, and it's open, so I had the opportunity to come," Andrew Bardak said.

Wyllie said that the museum saw well over 100 visitors on Veteran's Day.

"We've been very happy with the amount of interest and amount of guests we have had," he added.

Wyllie estimates that there has been about 4,000 visitors to the museum since it opened in June.

It's drawn not only those from the military community but also those who have heard about it on television, with some from as far away as Texas, Arizona, and Illinois planning trips just to see it.

"It's very touching," he said. "Living on Long Island and having the museum right here, you kind of take it for granted."

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