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Dade City Soldier Dies During Intense Special Forces Training

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By GEOFF FOX | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 12, 2008

Updated: 06/12/2008 08:49 pm

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Norman Michael "Ehren" Murburg

DADE CITY - It was Army Pfc. Norman Michael "Ehren" Murburg's childhood dream to be a superhero.

As an adult, he settled for Special Forces training.

The 20-year-old 2005 Pasco High School graduate was found dead Tuesday morning following a training exercise near Fort Bragg, N.C.

His sister, Erica Murburg, said her brother seemed to enjoy the Army as much as he loved animals, classic rock, sports and video games.

"Ever since he was little, we were raised to do good things for others," said Erica Marburg, 22, of Dade City. "He went to [The University of Florida] because that was expected of us, but it wasn't what he wanted to do.

"He loved the Army. It made him happier than I've seen him since we were little kids. I was so proud of him for doing what it was he really wanted. I'm heartbroken, but I'd rather he had a short, happy life than a long and miserable one."

Army officials said Ehren Murburg, assigned to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, didn't return from a 10-hour land-navigation test that ended at 1 a.m. Monday in the Hoffman Training Area, about 50 miles west of Fort Bragg. About 475 soldiers searched for him until his body was found.

Army officials said Thursday that Murburg had water in two of his canteens and had used none of his emergency equipment.

All soldiers participating in the test carry more than nine quarts of water and safety equipment, including a whistle, a strobe light and a reflective belt attached to their pack. Murburg did not activate his tracking device nor use his flares, said Maj. Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for the Kennedy school at Fort Bragg.

During the test, soldiers are required to find several points in the pine forest that surrounds the base using only a map and a compass. The test is part of the Army's Special Forces Assessment and Selection training, the first step in becoming a Green Beret. Officials said Murburg located his first point but failed to locate the remaining points or assembly areas.

Army officials told the family it could be months before the investigation is complete, Erica Murburg said.

Robin Futch, an assistant principal at Pasco High School, remembered Murburg as a disciplined student who never shied away from a challenge.

"He was one of those kids you know has a lot to give the world," she said. "I'm real sad to hear he passed away."

During his Pasco High days, Murburg took extra courses online, not because he needed the credits but because he enjoyed the work, she said, adding that he also took a number of Advanced Placement courses.

"He was always a hungry learner," she said.

Information on Murburg's MySpace page reveals that he had a penchant for Papa John's pizza, a disdain for alarm clocks and preferred Coke over Pepsi.

At 6-foot-4, Murburg described himself as fearless and said his only weakness was kryptonite, the fictional element known for being lethal to Superman.

Erica Murburg described her brother as funny and complex. When he was younger, she said, he fed a litter of kittens milk from a bottle after their mother died.

Yet, he also enjoyed hunting.

"Growing up, he was the funniest kid," she said. "He made us laugh all the time."

Other survivors include his parents, Karen Murburg of Clearwater, and Norman Murburg of Dade City.

Erica Murburg said her brother's body will be returned to Dade City on Saturday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete, but the family plans to use Hodges Funeral Home with services at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in San Antonio. He will be buried at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Reporter Ronnie Blair contributed to this story. Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 779-4613 or gfox@tampatrib.com.

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