There are Heroes - Ross A. McGinnis

Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis was stationed in turret the last of six Humvees in a patrol in northeast Baghdad when someone threw a grenade past him, into the Humvee.

The grenade lodged near the Humvee's radio.

McGinnis could have jumped, as he was trained to do. But he apparently realized that the other four soldiers in the Humvee didn't know that other four soldiers didn't know where the grenade had landed - and didn't have time to get out.

So, instead of jumping, he put his back against the radio mount. When the grenade exploded, it killed Private First Class McGinnis, but his decision to absorb the blast saved the four other soldiers.

An American Major General said that McGinnis "was part of a mission that requires equal measures of courage and compassion."

There are still heroes, people who decide to serve others, however dangerous that service is.

Ross A. McGinnis died December 4, 2006. His parents received the Medal of Honor at the White House today.

He's the fourth to American soldier serving in Iraq whose survivors received that honor:

• Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis
• Army Sergeant 1st Class Paul R. Smith
• Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor
• Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham

Sources and background:

• "McGinnis' parents to receive Medal of Honor today"
  The Derrick (June 2, 2008)
  • "The nation's highest award for valor is to be awarded today at the White House in honor of Knox hometown hero Ross A. McGinnis, who sacrificed his life in December 2006 while serving in Iraq.
  • "President Bush is scheduled to present the award to McGinnis' parents, Thomas and Romayne, during the Medal of Honor ceremony to be held this morning in the East Wing of the White House.
  • "McGinnis, 19, of Knox died Dec. 4, 2006, from wounds he received in Baghdad after a grenade was thrown into his vehicle.
  • "The soldier shouted a warning to the other men before hurling himself onto the grenade - lodged near the Humvee's radio - shortly before it blew up, killing him."
• "Pa. Soldier Who Jumped on Grenade to Receive Posthumous Medal of Honor"
  FOXNews (May 23, 2008)
  • "The White House announced Friday that a Pennsylvania soldier who jumped on top of a grenade in Iraq and saved the lives of his comrades will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor.
  • "The nation's highest military honor will be given to 19-year-old Army Pfc. Ross McGinnis of Knox, Pa., on June 2.
  • "McGinnis "distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism," said White House deputy press secretary Tony Fratto.

Related posts, on Individuals and the War on Terror.

Michael Monsoor to Receive Posthumus Medal of Honor

April 8, 2008, is a date to keep in mind. The family of Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, Navy SEAL, will receive the Congressional Medal of Honor on his behalf at a White House ceremony next Tuesday.

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Update, April 3, 2008

We're learning more about how Michael Monsoor lived and died: his last decision; and that his favorite holiday was Halloween.

He had a choice, before that grenade exploded. " 'One of the key aspects of this incident was the way the overwatch position was structured. There was only one access point for entry or exit and Monsoor was the only one who could have saved himself from harm. Instead, knowing what the outcome would be, he fell on the grenade to save the others from harm. ...' " NavySEALs.com (Memorial / Michael A. Monsoor)

Michael Monsoor had planned to get home to Garden Grove, California, in time to for his favorite holiday, Halloween. " 'Last Halloween, he was one of the Super Mario Brothers,' said one of his best friends, Patrick Barnes. 'This year, we were supposed to dress up as sumo wrestlers.' "

People who knew Michael Monsoor remembered a 25-year-old who "loved snowboarding, fast cars and motorcycles." His friends knew the loyalty and devotion that Monsoor showed in his death. " 'He was selective about the friends he made,' Barnes said, fighting back tears. 'But when you became his friend, you became his brother.' " Orange County Register (October 4, 2006)

More at Garden Grove resident and SEAL dies in combat" Orange County Register (October 4, 2006), "Navy SEAL to Get Medal of Honor" The Western Star (April 1, 2008), and "Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor: American Hero" (March 31 2008).

Related posts, on Individuals and the War on Terror.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor: American Hero

It's a movie cliché: grenade falls among soldiers; designated Hero flings self on grenade; grenade goes off; cue mood music.

It's also something that actually happens.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor receives the Congressional Medal of Honor¹ posthumously, for saving the lives of others by sacrificing his own.

Monsoor was with a SEAL team, working with Iraqi soldiers to provide sniper security in Ramadi, when a grenade bounced off his chest and landed near him. He dropped on the grenade. Two SEALs near him were injured, another, about a dozen feet away, wasn't.

• "He never took his eye off the grenade, his only movement was down toward it," ... "He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs' lives, and we owe him."
  (a lieutenant who got shrapnel wounds to both legs that day)
• "Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism on Sept. 29, 2006"
  (presidential press secretary Dana Perino)
• "He was just a fun-loving guy," ... "Always got something funny to say, always got a little mischievous look on his face."
  (a petty officer 2nd class who went through SEAL training with Monsoor)

Military.com gives a sort of thumbnail biography of Michael A. Nomsoor: "Other SEALS described the Garden Grove, Calif., native as a modest and humble man who drew strength from his family and his faith. His father and brother are former Marines, said a 31-year-old petty officer 2nd class.
"Prior to his death, Monsoor had already demonstrated courage under fire. He has been posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions May 9 in Ramadi, when he and another SEAL pulled a team member shot in the leg to safety while bullets pinged off the ground around them."

There's more detail at NavySeals.com - Michael A. Monsoor.

"Monsoor" joins thousands of other American names in the list of Medal of Honor recipients, including:

• Corporal Hiroshi H. Miyamura
• First Sergeant Maximo Yabes
• Pharmacists Mate 2nd Class Class George E Wahlen
• Army Surgeon Mary Walker
• Sergeant Alvin C. York
• Colonel Jay R. Vargas
• Sergeant Robert Emmett O'Malley

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Update April 1, 2008
(No, this is not an April Fool prank.)

I've been more aware of the surname "Monsoor" since writing this post, and have noticed some references to Michael Monsoor's background on the Web. For the most part, these have been quite positive, and sometimes curious.

One which caught my attention was a comment left on another blog's post: "I am moved by Michael Monsoor's bravery in combat and my condolences go out to his family.
"Monsoor is a Muslim name. I would like to know if Michael Monsoor was, or his family is, Muslim."

The person who wrote this expressed a reasonable curiosity about Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor's family and background. "Monsoor is a Muslim name," however, shows what I believe to be a common misunderstanding of Islam, Muslims, and culture.

Monsoor is a Middle Eastern family name. There are Monsoors in Lebanon, for example.

Although many Muslims are in Lebanon, that doesn't make Monsoor a Muslim name. For example, Schmidt is a German name. Quite a few Germans are Christians. That doesn't make "Schmidt" a Christian name, although some might assume that a Schmidt would be Christian.

Why does the name Monsoor 'sound' Muslim? Islam has been identified with Middle Eastern nationalities and ethnic groups. That doesn't necessarily mean that all people with Middle Eastern names are Muslims, though.

Back to Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor: His given name is "Michael." That name is traced back to Hebrew, and in the Christian Bible is the name of one of the archangels. Offhand, I'd say that it's an odd name for a Muslim to have.

But, stranger things have happened.

And all of this misses an important point. Monsoor is an American family name: just like O'Hare, Schwinghammer, Nguyen, Nakamura, Corradino, Bashir, and Rangasammy. And, of course, Smith.

It doesn't matter what sort of service was done at Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor's funeral. He's an American, and Americans can all be proud to be part of his country.

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Quotes from

• "Navy SEAL Posthumously Awarded Medal of Honor"
  FOXNews (March 31, 2008)
• "Navy SEAL Dies Saving Comrades"
  Military.com (October 14, 2006)

Medal of Honor background from

• "The Congressional Medal Of Honor" website

¹The Congressional Medal of Honor: the highest military award in America. Congress created the Medal of Honor in 1862, and tweaked it in 1918 and 1963.

New post on Michael A. Monsoor, at "Michael Monsoor to Receive Posthumus Medal of Honor" (April 2, 2008)

Related posts, on Individuals and the War on Terror.