Hall of Heroes: Michael Monsoor

The second SEAL since the fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq began is to be awarded the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest military honor.

On September 29, 2006 on a rooftop in eastern Ramadi, Master-at-Arms Second Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor manned a sniper overwatch position along with three other SEALs and eight Iraqi soldiers. The team was providing security for coalition forces operating in the vicinity.

Throughout the morning, the team received occasional harassing fire from local insurgents, which was typical. Later in the day, their position was hit by a rocket propelled grenade. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the team wasn’t able to determine from where the RPG was launched.

About two hours later, an insurgent moved in close enough to throw a grenade into their position. It struck Monsoor in the chest. They were in a tight spot – there was only one way in or out of their position. Monsoor was closest to the door and could have saved himself, but he instead chose to grab the grenade and shield his teammates from the blast with his body.

The two SEALs closest to the blast were wounded. The officer took shrapnel in both legs, but lived to say, “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.”

The fourth SEAL was about 10-15 feet from the blast, and was not injured. The three wounded SEALs were evacuated to the aid station. Thirty minutes after the attack, Monsoor died from his wounds.

Michael Fumento, who has previously written about Monsoor in Ramadi, writes that there will be a White House ceremony for Monsoor’s family on April 8. The Defense Department acknowledges that the medal will be awarded, but it is not official whether the President will award it, or when.

Monsoor had previously been awarded the Silver Star. During another firefight in Ramadi in May of 2006, another SEAL had been shot in the leg. Despite gunfire hitting the ground all around them, Monsoor and another SEAL pulled their teammate to safety.

Monsoor was 25 years old and a native of Garden Grove, California. In addition to the Medal of Honor, he was also awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He served as a platoon machine gunner for SEAL Team 3, based out of Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in southern California.

He is the second SEAL since fighting began in Afghanistan and Iraq to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Five months ago, Lt. Michael P. Murphy was also honored posthumously for his actions in the treacherous Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan in June of 2005. Two other SEALs from Murphy’s unit died in that battle, as well as eight additional SEALs and eight Army Special Operations soldiers when enemy forces shot down their helicopter.

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