I don't know if this Navy Hero ever posted on the CF, but I am taking an exception to honor him here as a Corvette lover and hero who gave his life for his friends.
Doug
Bush Honors Navy Hero at White House
By JENNIFER LOVEN,AP
Posted: 2008-04-09 06:44:14
Filed Under: Nation News
WASHINGTON (April 8) - Navy SEAL Michael A. Monsoor had fast thinking to do when a live grenade came out of nowhere to bounce off his chest: Take the clear path to safety that he had but his comrades didn't, try to toss it safely away, or throw himself on top of it.
Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor threw himself on a live grenade to save his comrades. Monsoor, 25, died about 30 minutes later. Thanks to his quick action, his fellow SEALS all survived the incident on Sept. 29, 2006, in Ramadi, Iraq. Monsoor was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on Tuesday.
With barely an instant's hesitation on that Iraqi rooftop, Monsoor took the last course, sacrificing his life to save the men around him. For that, President Bush on Tuesday awarded him the Medal of Honor.
In an East Room ceremony, Bush presented the nation's highest military honor to Monsoor's still-grieving parents, Sally and George Monsoor. About 250 guests, including his sister and two brothers, fellow SEALS, other Medal winners, many friends and GOP Sen. John McCain and other members of Congress, looked on quietly.
"The Medal of Honor is awarded for an act of such courage that no one could rightly be expected to undertake it," Bush said. "Yet those who knew Michael Monsoor were not surprised when he did."
Bush has awarded the medals to 10 people during his presidency. Monsoor is only the third from the Iraq war, and Bush's lip trembled and tears streamed down his cheeks as the official citation was read with the details of his bravery.
In brief remarks, Bush told the story of Monsoor's service-oriented upbringing and determined youth.
Monsoor became a Navy SEAL, the military's most elite fighting force, in 2004.
"His teammates liked to laugh about the way his shiny Corvette would leave everybody in the dust," Bush said. "But deep down, they always knew Mike would never leave anybody behind when it counted."
By spring 2006, Monsoor was deployed to Ramadi in Iraq's dangerous, then-al-Qaida dominated Anbar Province, as an automatic weapons gunner and communications operator — a double assignment that often landed him more than 100 pounds of gear to carry in the hot desert.
In May, Monsoor ran through heavy enemy fire to pull a wounded SEAL to safety. He earned a Silver Star, the third-highest award for combat valor, for that action.
It was only four months later, on Sept. 29, 2006, that Monsoor and his two American teammates, plus members of the Iraqi Army, were on a rooftop in a Ramadi residential area known as a stronghold for the Sunni insurgency. They were providing early warning and sniper cover for a mission aimed at trying to clear the neighborhood.
After a long day of back-and-forth engagement and evidence that the enemy was closing them off, Monsoor and the two other SEALS moved to a confined outcropping of the roof for a better lookout position. An unseen insurgent lobbed a grenade, which hit Monsoor in the chest and landed on the floor in front of him. He yelled a warning, but quickly saw that his fellow SEALS, not positioned near the exit like he was, wouldn't be able to get clear in time. Monsoor fell onto the grenade just as it exploded, absorbing the blast with his body and dying from the injuries about 30 minutes later. Others suffered shrapnel wounds, but no one else was killed.
The Garden Grove, Calif., native, was only 25 years old.
"Mr. and Mrs. Monsoor: America owes you a debt that can never be repaid," Bush said. "This nation will always cherish the memory of your son."
Mike Monsoor should always be remembered as one of the great heros of our nation. May he rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. May all of our Corvette brothers return safely from Iraq.
Location: fighter pilots make movies, bomber pilots make history
The WW2 guys are deservedly called the greatest generation. The Korean vets are the forgotten generation. We lost a lot of us in SE Asia, but I think this generation may truly be the best.
A brick fund has been established in Monsoor's honor at the NCM. details below.
A brick fund has been established for Michael Monsoor. Anyone who would like to contribute may do so by calling us at 1-800-53-VETTE or by sending their donation to the NCM at 350 Corvette Dr, Bowling Green, KY 42101. Please be sure to reference Michael Monsoor when making the donation. The National Corvette Museum is a 501 (c)(3) organization and donations made to Michael’s fund are tax deductible. To date, $250 has been raised for this fund.
If I can be of further assistance, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Morrill
Membership/Guest Services Manager
National Corvette Museum
"A Member-Driven Organization" www.corvettemuseum.com
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush has awarded the nation's highest military tribute to a Navy SEAL who was killed when he threw himself on a grenade in Iraq to save his comrades.
The president, blinking back tears, recognized the bravery of Michael A. Monsoor, who was part of a sniper team in Ramadi when he died on Sept. 29, 2006.
There are no words that I have to express my thanks to ALL of our brave soldiers wherever they may be. All I can say is thank you for your sacrifice so that my children, and the children of others may grow up in this nation that continues to be free. My deepest condoleances and thanks to his family for the greatest sacrifice of all. He is truly a hero.
Wow, an incredible story about an incredible person. I don't think there is a greater act then sacrificing your own life to save others. There is nothing more unselfish then that.
Wow, an incredible story about an incredible person. I don't think there is a greater act then sacrificing your own life to save others. There is nothing more unselfish then that.
Man, I just got around to reading this thread. It's just awful, yet inspiring... I'd hope I could be as brave as Michael, but I doubt it somehow. That's a special person and a real hero. Much belated thanks from NJ.
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Fallen Navy Hero, Corvette Lover
