The presentation of the Medal of Honor for U.S. Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy will be Oct. 22 at the White House.

The presentation for U.S. Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy will be Oct. 22 at the White House.

The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the U.S. armed forces.

Murphy's father, Daniel, will accept the award on behalf of his son, said a news release from the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command.

Murphy will receive the award for his "extraordinary, selfless heroism and steadfast courage" while leading the mission east of Asadabad in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan June 27 to 28, 2005.

"We are thrilled by the president's announcement today, especially because there is now a public recognition of what we knew all along about Michael's loyalty, devotion and sacrifice to his friends, family, country, and especially his SEAL teammates," the Murphy family said in a statement. "The honor is not just about Michael, it is about his teammates and those who lost their lives that same day."

According to the release:

Murphy was the officer-in-charge of the SEAL team, which was sent to locate a high-level Taliban militia leader to provide intelligence needed to capture or destroy the local leadership and disrupt enemy activity.

However, local Taliban sympathizers discovered the SEAL unit and immediately revealed their position to Taliban fighters, the release said. The team was besieged on a mountaintop by scores of enemy fighters. The firefight that ensued pushed the SEALS farther into enemy territory and left all four SEALs wounded.

Understanding the gravity of the situation and his responsibility to his men, Murphy, "already wounded, deliberately and unhesitatingly moved from cover into the open where he took and returned fire while transmitting a call for help for his beleaguered teammates," the release said.

Shot through the back while radioing for help, Murphy completed his transmission while returning fire.

The call ultimately led to the rescue of one severely wounded team member, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell, and the recovery of the remains of Murphy and Gunner's Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny Dietz and Sonar Technician 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew Axelson.

Luttrell wrote a book about the battle after he departed the Navy this summer. In his book Luttrell credited all three of his teammates for their heroism, including Murphy's sacrificial act that eventually led to his rescue.