SEAL Falls on Grenade to Save Comrades

AP ^ | October 13 2006 | THOMAS WATKINS

[jmc1969]

A Navy SEAL sacrificed his life to save his comrades by throwing himself on top of a grenade Iraqi insurgents tossed into their sniper hideout, fellow members of the elite force said.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor had been near the only door to the rooftop structure Sept. 29 when the grenade hit him in the chest and bounced to the floor, said four SEALs who spoke to The Associated Press this week on condition of anonymity because their work requires their identities to remain secret.

"He never took his eye off the grenade, his only movement was down toward it," said a 28-year-old lieutenant who sustained shrapnel wounds to both legs that day. "He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs' lives, and we owe him."

Monsoor, a 25-year-old gunner, was killed in the explosion in Ramadi, west of Baghdad. He was only the second SEAL to die in Iraq since the war began.

Two SEALs next to Monsoor were injured; another who was 10 to 15 feet from the blast was unhurt. The four had been working with Iraqi soldiers providing sniper security while U.S. and Iraqi forces conducted missions in the area.

In an interview at the SEALs' West Coast headquarters in Coronado, four members of the special force remembered "Mikey" as a loyal friend and a quiet, dedicated professional.

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.

[Dante3]

I totally agree with you.

[MARKUSPRIME]

RIP brave warrior.

[MARKUSPRIME]

God bless all our forces around the world past and present. It takes special people to give everything for these great United States of America, and to their brothers in arms. We are blessed to have such people.May god grant them peace and mercy in the afterlife.

[radar101]

This 2004 photo provided by the U.S. Navy shows Navy SEAL Michael A. Monsoor on a cold-weather training mission in Kodiak, Alaska.

[Pontifus Maximus]

First rate human being. May he rest in eternal peace. Prayers to his family and friends. Utterly remarkable act of selflessness.

[JOE43270]

God Bless this Seal Monsoor. He and his family are in my prayers.

[cll]

Thanks and God Bless.

[World_Events]

I love the SEALs. Bless him and his sacrifice, and for all the awesome work these guys have been doing. They don't get as much attention and respect as the other elite forces do, but to me they are the best.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

I heard about him on Mark Levin's radio show tonight. What a hero this SEAL is. My heart immediately wonders about his family; and I offer my prayers for them.

[STARWISE]

Heartbreaking. We can never repay their pain and sacrifices. Rest in peace, brave Michael. May you sail on Heavenly seas through eternity. Tears and prayers for his family and friends.

[napscoordinator]

I wonder how come nobody is getting Medal of Honors this war. I guess since all the Vietnam people received them they are being stingy. sarc. I was kidding on that, but serious about the lack of Medal of Honors in this war. This SEAL clearly should have received one. Do we need to write to congress or something?

[mewzilla]

God bless him and his family. We'll keep them in our prayers.

[mewzilla]

Supreme sacrifice

[aculeus]

Certain to be featured on front page of WaPo, NY Times, etc. and on major news broadcasts.

</youknowwhat>

[MotleyGirl70]

HERO

[M Kehoe]

May God bless Michael Monsoor, and hold him and his family in the palm of His hand. Amen.

5.56mm

[MotleyGirl70]

I'm going to write a letter to the only man (representing WI) I know of who will care about this in WI, and that's my congressman, Jim Sensenbrenner.

It will be important to him that he knows this. He's the only rational voice of reason we have left in WI.

[LZ_Bayonet]

Related, interesting story: On March 12, 1953, Duane Dewey stood at attention in the Oval Office in front of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Looking on were his parents, his sister, his wife, Bertha, and two of his company officers. After the citation was read, the president approached the twenty-one-year-old hero with the nation’s highest military award in his hand. This was the first Medal of Honor given by Eisenhower and after fussing with it for a while he finally gave up, saying “I’ve got the ribbon twisted, but your wife can take care of that later.” Displaying that famous Eisenhower grin, the president looked at the young marine with admiration and commented, “You must have a body of steel.” Then, leaning closer, he added, “It [the grenade] had to be one of theirs. If it had been one of ours, it would have blown you to pieces.” The president made such a favorable impression on the young couple that when their son was born two months later they named him Dwight, “Ike” for short.

http://www.michiganhistorymag.com/extra/korean_medal_of_honor.pdf.

[Cagey]

You're right, this man is a hero in the original meaning of the word.

[Larry Lucido]

Yep