Elmer's Brother

My last duty station I worked with Navy SEALS, EOD and Marine Force Recon. You'll never find a better bunch of men. Michael Monsoor is a great example of the type of fighting man we have in Iraq. His story is reminiscent of Sgt. Rafael Peraltas. (and here) Selfless, brave and like the good Book says "No greater love has any man than he lay down his life for a friend."

h/t Angel at Woman Honor Thyself

CORONADO, Calif. - A Navy SEAL sacrificed his life to save his comrades by throwing himself on top of a grenade Iraqi insurgents tossed into their sniper hideout, fellow members of the elite force said.

SEAL falls on grenade to save comrades
Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor had been near the only door to the rooftop structure……when the grenade hit him in the chest and bounced to the floor…

“He never took his eye off the grenade, his only movement was down toward it,” said a 28-year-old lieutenant who sustained shrapnel wounds to both legs that day. “He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs’ lives, and we owe him.”
Monsoor, a 25-year-old gunner, was killed in the explosion in Ramadi, west of Baghdad. He was only the second SEAL to die in Iraq since the war began.”

This, on the heels of the Navy’s 231st birthday. October 13, 1775.

Honor. Courage. Committment.

Take a good, hard look Libs.

Rosemary at DOD news

Pajama Media's coverage

Military.com

From Flopping Aces:

Blackfive has more on this great man:

SEAL Team THREE deployed to Iraq last Spring and within a month of arriving, Mike had already distinguished himself. As one of the platoon machine gunners, Mike made quite an impression on the battlefield. On May 9, 2006 a teammate was shot in the legs, immobile, and exposed. Suppressing enemy fire with his M60, Mike fought his way to his wounded comrade’s position and dragged him out of the line of fire while maintaining constant pressure on enemy insurgents with his weapon. That action earned him a Silver Star… in the first month of his first deployment.

Fast forward to the final weeks of that deployment and Mike along with two fellow SEALs were occupying an overwatch position on a rooftop in the Mulab district of Ramadi which is basically the most dangerous neighborhood of the most dangerous city in Iraq. A hidden enemy managed to toss a grenade onto the rooftop near the three SEALs, and Mike without hesitation warned his comrades verbally before placing himself in a position to block the lethal blast of the grenade from killing his teammates. One of the SEALs he saved said that Mike’s countenance was completely calm and he showed no fear only resolve. No short timer’s disease infecting this man, he had only a couple of weeks remaining in the deployment and he did not flinch at the moment of truth.

Froggy and others are calling for Michael to be awarded the Medal of Honor. I would also like to see Peralta be awarded this honor. The History Channel is doing a special on Peralta soon, but these two men need to be recognized by our Country with our highest award.

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• The Steel Deal