Navy Seal Saves Squad By Jumping Onto Grenade

XxCarbinexX · Apr 9, 2008 at 10:02 AM

WASHINGTON - 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.

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.

The emotional proceedings at the White House came as the top U.S. general and diplomat in Iraq opened two days of testimony across town on Capitol Hill on the status of the war, which has killed more than 4,020 U.S. military personnel.

Gen. David Petraeus said security in Iraq is still too fragile to allow announcements of troop levels going below 140,000 before September. Bush is giving a speech on Thursday to announce whether he accepts Petraeus' recommendation to suspend troop withdrawals for 45 days after the current round completes in July. He is expected to do so.

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."[/b]
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I think that it was a very courageous thing for M. Monsoor, and that he deserves the Medal of Honor all the way.

Would you do the same as Monsoor?

Discuss.

Mortified Penguin · Apr 9, 2008 at 10:13 AM

Yes. Although to be honest, it may be that I'd throw it away instead, depending on how long it had been up there...

`sparks · Apr 9, 2008 at 10:32 AM

Another reason all of us in the US should be proud to be Americans.

RIP Michael A. Monsoor

And as far as the "doing the same" question...I don't think any of us could answer that without ever being put into that situation, I also don't think anyone here has the mindset of that kind of courage and duty to a group of people, as much as a team of Navy SEALS would have. That man gave his life for random Iraqi soldiers as well as a group of men he'd only known for 4 years at the most. I don't think anyone here can answer "yes" to that question without a doubt in their mind.

kryzzie · Apr 9, 2008 at 11:00 AM

OMG. He is so so brave! I was moved to tears. So much ahead of me, to bear such courage at such an age... He is truly a hero. I don't know what I'll do because I have never been put in a situation like this... the fact that he was near the exit and could escape on his own but still chose to sacrifice himself, it's something I doubt I can manage. Now I think I'm such a selfish being >.<

dalecyt · Apr 9, 2008 at 2:00 PM

he deserves it 100% one of the bravest things ive heard it makes me feel deeply saddened when a soldier dies but he was doing his duty and every us citizen should be proud

Pinky · Apr 9, 2008 at 2:22 PM

Thats awesome. Brave man.

dinges · Apr 9, 2008 at 2:28 PM

brave man

and no I would not do the same

diverseartist · Apr 9, 2008 at 7:33 PM

id sit on it with my ass
/ftw

exenth. · Apr 9, 2008 at 7:57 PM

wow that's amazing.

.Sinister · Apr 9, 2008 at 8:33 PM

woah now that erm hectic...

`sparks · Apr 9, 2008 at 8:43 PM

id sit on it with my ass
/ftw[/b]
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Its wasn't a giant dick...it was a live grenade...grow the ------ up kid

Majin · Apr 9, 2008 at 9:05 PM

He's got.... sorry had some balls.

AKW · Apr 9, 2008 at 9:45 PM

That's an impressive decision. He IS what being a Navy SEAL is all about. Being a TEAM -i.

If I were in that situation would be the ONLY way you would know whether or not I would. I just don't know what to say about it. That is a really dedicated thing to do and it has to be quick as well. Phew...

It would also depend on whether or not I had a wife, kid, etc. Which would factor in whether or not I would do the same. It is just such a final decission I am just not too sure I could pull it off in time even if I did decide to do it.

-=117=- · Apr 9, 2008 at 11:23 PM

He deserves. I think anyone who is willing to jump on a grenade to save somebody else deserves that medal.

Unkie · Apr 16, 2008 at 7:45 AM

A real hero. RIP

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Navy Seal Saves Squad By Jumping Onto Grenade

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Navy Seal Saves Squad By Jumping Onto Grenade

XxCarbinexX Well-Known Member

Mortified Penguin Senior Member

`sparks Jcoca

kryzzie Well-Known Member

dalecyt Well-Known Member

Pinky Senior Member

dinges Senior Member

diverseartist Well-Known Member

exenth. Well-Known Member

.Sinister Well-Known Member

`sparks Jcoca

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