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2008/3/31

Navy SEAL gets Medal of Honor

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@ 06:46 PM (1 month, 11 days ago)

MORE ON MICHAEL MONSOOR.
 
By CHELSEA J. CARTER, Associated Press Writer

An elite Navy SEAL who threw himself on top of a grenade in Iraq to save his comrades will be posthumously awarded the nation's highest military tribute, a White House spokeswoman said Monday.

The Medal of Honor will be awarded to Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor. His family will receive the medal during a White House ceremony April 8.

Monsoor is the fourth person to receive the honor since the beginning of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

"Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism on Sept. 29, 2006," press secretary Dana Perino told reporters during a briefing aboard Air Force One as President Bush headed to Europe for a NATO summit.

Monsoor was part of a sniper security team in Ramadi with three other SEALs and eight Iraqi soldiers, according to a Navy account. An insurgent fighter threw the grenade, which struck Monsoor in the chest before falling in front of him.

Monsoor then threw himself on the grenade, according to a SEAL who spoke to The Associated Press in 2006 on condition of anonymity because his work requires his identity to remain secret.

"He never took his eye off the grenade, his only movement was down toward it," said a 28-year-old lieutenant, who suffered shrapnel wounds to both legs that day. "He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs' lives, and we owe him."

Two SEALs next to Monsoor were injured; another who was 10 feet to 15 feet from the blast was unhurt. Monsoor, from Garden Grove, Calif., was 25 at the time.

Monsoor, a platoon machine gunner, had received the Silver Star, the third-highest award for combat valor, for his actions pulling a wounded SEAL to safety during a May 9, 2006, firefight in Ramadi.

He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for his sacrfice in Ramadi.

Sixteen SEALs have been killed in Afghanistan. Eleven of them died in June 2005 when a helicopter was shot down near the Pakistan border while ferrying reinforcements for troops pursuing al-Qaida militants.

There are about 2,300 of the elite fighters, based in Coronado and Little Creek, Va.

The Navy is trying to boost the number by 500 — a challenge considering more than 75 percent of candidates drop out of training, notorious for "Hell Week," five days of continual drills by the ocean broken by only four hours sleep total.

Monsoor made it through training on his second attempt.

___

Associated Press writer Thomas Watkins contributed to this report.

(This version CORRECTS that Monsoor is the fourth person to receive the honor since the beginning of Iraq and Afghanistan wars, per change of information from the Navy.)

Comment(s) »

  1. These are the self-sacrificing brave men that code stink and other libs protest against, and call baby killers.....My condolences to the family, I hope they find some solace, or comfort in this posthumously awarded medal....riff

    Comment by riffran— 2008/03/31 @ 11:19 PM — (Reply)

  2. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

    john 15:13

    Comment by nanc— 2008/04/01 @ 04:38 AM — (Reply)

  3. I think I've mentioned this before. I know that many people consider our youth spoiled, pampered Play Station junkies incapable of comprehending honor, duty, country. But then I look at the stories coming from the war and think, "With men and women like this, we're still ok." And I sleep better at night.

    Comment by Burns— 2008/04/01 @ 05:15 AM — (Reply)

  4. hey Burns...I worked with so many brave young people while I was there and during my 20 years....this generation has stepped up to the plate and we need to honor them...they are reenlisting in droves because they KNOW the work they are doing is important

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/04/01 @ 05:42 AM — (Reply)

  5. What Nanc said. May he be at peace and in Glory.

    Comment by Brooke— 2008/04/01 @ 05:56 AM — (Reply)

  6. just popped into say hello again EB,wish me luck with another new start.

    Comment by Jean gentine— 2008/04/02 @ 02:05 AM — (Reply)

  7. Good one.

    Comment by Jean gentine— 2008/04/02 @ 02:10 AM — (Reply)

  8. I can only imagine what went through his mind in those last living seconds here on earth....nanc said it best.j

    Comment by Joe Gringo— 2008/04/03 @ 12:12 PM — (Reply)

  9. Those in uniform make sacrifices every day--as do their families. Too many Americans, sitting her in the comfort of our homes, forget that fact.

    I often feel that it's a pity that we don't recognize with honors more of our brave servicemen and servicewomen.

    Comment by Always On Watch— 2008/04/04 @ 05:21 AM — (Reply)

  10. It is too bad that you have to look so hard to hear of their bravery AoW.

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/04/04 @ 05:32 AM — (Reply)

  11. "threw himself on the grenade" HOW???
    the definition of courage and sacrifice and love. thanks, Elbro, this should be all over the media.

    Comment by Z— 2008/04/04 @ 01:42 PM — (Reply)

  12. The Media wont find a story there, They have never been in those such circumstance and only mock the efforts of those, Like this seal, That would . Besides so far the radio television signal has not been able to be established with the great beyond ! Wouldn't they love to try ?

    Comment by jim— 2008/04/04 @ 03:01 PM — (Reply)

  13. He was a good man ... thanks for this!!

    Comment by Americaneocon— 2008/04/11 @ 06:51 PM — (Reply)

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