We all hope that should the situation arise, we would rise to meet it (though seeing what transpires on reality shows perhaps I am too inclusive using the word "we").
For Michael A. Monsoor the situation came in Ramadi, Iraq.
While on an operation with three other Navy seals a fragment grenade was thrown into their position hitting Michael in the chest before falling to the floor.
The way the position they were defending was constructed there was only one access point for entry or exit and Michael was the closest to it, Michael was the only person who could get out of the room prior to the grenade exploding.
Instead of leaving Monsoor yelled, “Grenade!” then dropped on top of it, covering the grenade with his body and shielding the others in the room from the explosion.
Michael was evacuated to a battalion aid station but died about 30 minutes later from injuries sustained by the grenade blast.
During his funeral, as the coffin was moved from the hearse to the grave, Navy SEALs lined up in columns of twos on both sides of the pallbearers route, with the coffin moving up the center.
As the coffin passed each SEAL, they slapped down the gold Trident each had removed from his own uniform and deeply embedded it into the wooden coffin. For nearly 30 minutes the slaps were audible from across the cemetery.
Michaels parents accepted the nation’s highest military honor, the Medal of Honor, on behalf of their son during a White House ceremony April 8, 2008.
You can read more about Michael A. Monsoor, a man who laid down his life for his friends, here and here.
3 comments:
I remember reading about him ... what a terribly sad but inspirational story. (Incidentally, it always makes me so proud to see my fellow Arab-Americans serving our country so bravely!)
Two more REAL Heros:
Though not a Seal, Marine Cpl Jason Dunham performed a similar feat in Iraq for which the CMH was awarded. A Naval destroyer (built at Bath Iron Works) is named for him and will join the fleet later this year.
Another Seal, Lt Michael Murphy, and CMH recipient was gunned down during Operation Redwing in Afghanistan. Only one team member returned from that fight. A destroyer (built at BIW) is also named for Lt. Murphy, it will be christend in the near future. The story of Operation Redwing can be found in the book "Lone Survivor" written by the lone survivor Marcus Luttrell w/ Patrick Robinson.
Michael,
Too often stories of such bravery aren’t known when in fact they should be sung from the rooftops.
Thank you for taking the time to share their names and their stories.
Scott
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