McGreevy was part of a dedicated Naval Special Warfare team fighting the Taliban, a fundamentalist
regime that a U.S.-led coalition knocked from power in Afghanistan in 2001, but has continued to conduct guerilla operations, particularly along the Pakistan border. McGreevy worked to help ensure al Qaeda terrorists could not train in, nor launch strikes from Afghanistan since their lethal attack on the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001.

Michael McGreevy graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1997. A top athlete who ran track, wrestled and played soccer, he gained early admission to the Army’s academy at West Point, but held out for a spot at the Naval Academy.

Upon graduation, he began as a Surface Warfare Officer, then went to BUD/S in late 1999, graduating as the Honor Man of his class in 2000. McGreevy, known to his friends as “Groove,” was assigned to Africa after the war broke out in Iraq. He deployed to Afghanistan in April 2005.

Family friends remembered McGreevy as “a true hero, not only because of how he died serving his country, but also because of the manner in which he lived his life and the type of person he was.” McGreevy would defend classmates in middle school and high school from bullies. “He simply would not permit anyone to inflict harm to others,” a family friend said.

A Naval Academy classmate said that McGreevy’s lifelong ambition was to be a Navy SEAL. “He excelled at every- thing. He was the best runner, the best swimmer. And he was smart.”

She added, “He was always smiling, always happy. He brightened everybody’s day. He had a wife he really loved, and friends. Everybody loved him. He was just a great guy.”

Military friends of McGreevy described this determined and humble man who excelled in all he did, as “the embodiment of American ideals.”

“Hold him up as high as you can – he was a great American and a great person, said a classmate from the U.S. Naval Academy. He did well in everything I saw him do -- at the same time, he was very, very humble about it, and was always ready to help others. Said another, “He died doing what he always wanted to do.”

Michael McGreevy was one of 16 troops killed when a MH- 47 Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan June 28, on a daring night mission to reinforce a four-man SEAL reconnaissance squad that was ambushed in 10,000-foot mountainous terrain.

McGreevy, seven other SEALs. and eight Army Nightstalker” commandos, died in a heroic attempt to rescue their fellow SEALs. LT Michael Murphy, Matthew Axelson, and Danny Dietz fought on courageously, providing protective fire that enabled a fourth squad member to escape before they were killed in the fierce firefight by overwhelming Taliban forces.

A total of 11 SEALs died that day in the Global War against Terror. It was the biggest single loss of life for Naval Special Warfare forces since World War II. To a man, these SEALs embodied the Navy’s core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment, and took care of their teammates to the end.

Michael McGreevy is remembered with the greatest respect and gratitude by his fellow SEALs, the Navy, and our nation.