Posted on 09/17/2009 1:42:42 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Presenting his first Medal of Honor, President Barack Obama on Thursday praised the sacrifice of a soldier who braved enemy fire while attempting to save a comrade during the war in Afghanistan.
Obama honored Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti of Raynham, Mass., during an East Room ceremony and praised the extraordinary valor while facing insurgent fire. Standing before Monti's parents, Janet and Paul, Obama said Monti personified the values of duty, honor, sacrifice and heroism.
Americans often toss around such words too freely, the president said.
"But do we really grasp the meaning of these values? Do we truly understand the nature of these virtues, to serve and to sacrifice?" Obama asked. "Jared Monti knew.The Monti family knows. And they know that the actions we honor today were not a passing moment of courage. They were the culmination of a life of character and commitment."
The award came as the administration is wrestling with its next move in Afghanistan. Obama has held off sending more troops to the country where the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were launched. He already has sent 17,000 additional combat troops to Afghanistan and is weighing sending even more to stabilize that nation.
Democrats, however, want specific benchmarks there before Obama goes forward with more combat troops for the region. For his part, Obama stayed away from the Washington debate and instead kept his focus on the story of what happened on June 21, 2006, when the 30-year-old Monti died during a firefight with the Taliban in Gowardesh, Afghanistan,
"Bullets and heavy machine gunfire ricocheting across the rocks. Rocket-propelled grenades raining down. Fire so intense that weapons were shot right out of their hands," Obama said, explaining the battle to a packed White House event. "Within minutes, one soldier was killed; another was wounded. Everyone dove for cover, behind a tree, a rock, a stone wall."
Monti's 16-man patrol had been scouting ahead of a larger offensive against the Taliban along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. A helicopter deployed to resupply the patrol blew their cover; Taliban fighters converged, and Monti called for backup.
One of his men, Pvt. Brian Bradbury, of St. Joseph, Mo., was shot during the encounter. Monti, who enlisted at age 17, twice left cover and ran into the open under intense enemy fire to retrieve the wounded soldier.
“One of his men, Pvt. Brian Bradbury, of St. Joseph, Mo., was shot during the encounter. Monti, who enlisted at age 17, twice left cover and ran into the open under intense enemy fire to retrieve the wounded soldier.”
What a brave young man...rest in Peace...
WTF does 0bama care if one of our guys dies when he has consistently been against wars. Hell, he’s abandonning E Europe as fast as he is American defense.
OTH, one less Marine to join up as a DHS terrorist.
Go the frack back to Africa or Indonesia, 0bama, where your loyalties lie. I can’t think of a single man who’d voluntarily take a bullet for you or your wife.
He (obama) is finally trying to do something right, regardless of the motivation behind it.
R.I.P. to the fallen soilder and prayers to his loved ones.
We have been in the ‘Stan for 8 years in a hot (daily) war, with over 700 US Military KIA. And just two MoH.
I know we have better men than that. The lack of recognition for the many selfless acts over the years is.... shameful
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