As Mikes coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin. After the engagements, the local populace blocked off the roads in the area with rocks to keep civilians away and to warn insurgents of the presence of his Coalition sniper element. Portrait of Medal of Honor recipient Michael Monsoor. I believe I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Mr. Monsoor there. Fausone: And he gave them a gift, just like he gave a lot of people who have heard the story this gift. Sally recently passed away, and they were married for 49 years, so that is very heartbreaking. On that day, Monsoor was part of a sniper overwatch security position with three other SEALs and eight Iraqi Army (IA) soldiers. Only you guys, only the men, and women who have served in these stressful situations can attest something happens. I think there's a lesson for all of us here, isn't there? As for his family, please accept my deepest sympathy. Michael died thirty minutes later, having made the ultimate sacrifice. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I think Michael probably got some of his good leadership principles from following along Lieutenant Commander Willink. Silver Strand Training Complex. Although only he could have escaped the blast, Petty Officer Monsoor chose instead to protect his teammates. Petty Officer Monsoor entered Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, Calif., and subsequently graduated with Class 250 on Sept. 2, 2004 as one of the top performers in his class. New guys are like the bottom of the barrel, right? I mean this really is a story about Brotherhood and father/son. Fausone: And again, that's the lesson to learn. It said who Michael Monsoor was, a little bit about him - just a titch - and something went off in my being, and it was like you've got to tell this boy's story. During the Battle of Ramadi, SEAL Team Three was sent to Ramadi, Iraq in April 2006 and assigned to train Iraqi Army soldiers. [6], On September 29, 2006, Monsoor's platoon engaged four insurgents in a firefight in Ramadi, killing one and injuring another. From the US Navy: Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael Anthony Monsoor. But, he didn't give up. Lord, protect my brothers above all else. President Bush presents the Medal of Honor to Sally and George Monsoor, parents of Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, during an East Room ceremony on Tuesday. Monsoor was protecting other SEALs, two of whom were 15 feet away from him. WHILE THE SEALS VIGILANTLY WATCHED FOR ENEMY ACTIVITY, AN INSURGENT THREW A HAND GRENADE FROM AN UNSEEN LOCATION, WHICH BOUNCED OFF PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR'S CHEST AND LANDED IN FRONT OF HIM. He will safeguard our families, as he safeguarded his own family. The guys talk about the weight you carry, the extra weight. Mike and his fellow SEALs accounted for 84 enemy fighters killed in action and the detainment of numerous insurgents. Michael Anthony Monsoor was born on 5 April 1981 in Long Beach, CA, the third of four children born to George and Sally Monsoor. He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. The grenade detonated as he came down on top of it, mortally wounding him. "The procession went on nearly half an hour," Bush said. Installations. Although only . While the SEALs vigilantly watched for enemy activity, an insurgent threw a hand grenade from an unseen location, which bounced off Petty Officer Monsoor's chest and landed in front of him. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Petty Officer Second Class Michael Anthony Monsoor was born April 5, 1981 in Long Beach, Calif. Michael grew up in Garden Grove, Calif., as the third of four children of George and Sally Monsoor. The trident is a U.S. Navy special warfare badge worn by SEALs. Of the three SEALs on that rooftop corner, he had the only avenue of escape away from the blast, and if he had so chosen, he could have easily escaped. There is a lot that goes into naming the ship. It is a city devastated by war. I can't speak for him, but I assume that's why he kept it to himself. Monsoor was awarded the Silver Star for this action,[5][8] and was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq. Monsoor died approximately 30 minutes later from wounds sustained from the blast. By his extraordinary guidance, zealous initiative, and total dedication to duty, Petty Officer Monsoor reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. A little-known tribute some Navy SEALs gave to a fallen comrade is gaining notice. Talk a little bit about the role and responsibility that goes with being that automatic weapon operator. On September 29, 2006, Ramadi, Iraq was considered the most dangerous city on planet earth for American servicemen. Mission and Vision. He has a grateful nation forever in his debt! BY HIS UNDAUNTED COURAGE, FIGHTING SPIRIT, AND UNWAVERING DEVOTION TO DUTY IN THE FACE OF CERTAIN DEATH, PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY, THEREBY REFLECTING GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHOLDING THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE. His parents had no idea that he was operating on a nightly basis and the type of danger that he was in. And then from George and Sally's perspective, knowing bits and pieces people do know. So it just marries together so many wonderful stories and memories. As we trained and prepared to deploy to Iraq, everyone learned that Mike was an incredible person. Michael just took all that on and he was never one to back down from anything. SAN DIEGO - The Navy's newest Zumwalt-class destroyer, USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), was commissioned Jan. 26 at Naval Air Station North Island.. Twenty gold star families and four Medal of Honor recipients witnessed the Navy's second Zumwalt-class destroyer enter the fleet. We worked hand-in-hand and one by one with his teammates. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. [12][13], For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as Platoon Machine Gunner in Sea, Air, Land Team THREE (SEAL-3), Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, Task Unit Ramadi, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 9 May 2006. Due to expected enemy action, the officer in charge repositioned him with his automatic heavy machine gun in the direction of the enemy's most likely avenue of approach. He was a boy. Fausone: I think that's one of the lessons, right? 2006 In the picture, his brother SEALs are nearbybut Mikey is out front. Fausone:Yes and it's a huge honor. Michael the Archangel by Guido Reni, Santa Maria della Concezione, Rome, 1636. Market data provided by Factset. The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to. Can you talk to us a little bit about learning that part of the story, which I suspect his parents knew nothing about when he was over in Iraq? The future USS Michael Monsoor, named for Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on September. During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego, as his coffin was at the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEALs were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route . You see those friendships that were deep in there. I want to hold my nephews and nieces again. It was such an honor and they felt safe with me because I wasn't just a reporter. In the morning, his team observed four enemy fighters armed with AK-47s reconnoitering from roads in the sector to conduct follow-on attacks. "He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs'' lives, and we owe him." 230216-NO146-2001GULF OF ADEN (Feb. 16, 2023) Sailors from Republic of Korea Navy ship ROKS Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin (DDH975) assist civilian mariners from France, Feb. 16, 2023. Petty Officer Monsoor's actions could not have been more selfless or clearly intentional. Kind of related to how that gift continues to ripple forward. He was 25 years old. Monsoor and the two injured were evacuated to the combat outpost battalion aid station where Monsoor died approximately 30 minutes after the incident from injuries sustained by the grenade blast., Also due to Monsoors selfless actions, the fourth man of the SEAL squad who was 10-15 feet from the blast, was unhurt. During the first five months of deployment, that platoon from Team 3 was assigned to Camp Corregidor on the east side of Ramadi, led by then-Lieutenant Seth Stone, who also earned the Silver Star for his own actions on the same September 29, 2006 operation. Delta Platoon executed a broad spectrum of combat operations in and around Ramadi. They flew him back over to do the honors. Michael obviously knew what was going down, as he was operating on this nightly basis. The name of Petty Officer Michael Anthony Monsoor will now be among them. Palatial properties along the Intracoastal Waterway, the St. Johns and the Beaches dominated the list of . Three Ismaili Muslims were members of parliament, down one from 2019, and State Minister for Peace Sadat Mansoor Naderi is also an Ismaili Muslim. Tell us about this day that will always be remembered. I was part of their community. Market data provided by Factset. Monsoor described as an "outgoing guy" by his grandfather, George Monsoor, Sr. was killed on Sept. 29, 2006. Mike and his platoon operated in a highly contested part of Ramadi city called the Ma'laab district. All rights reserved. Petty Officer Michael A. Monsoor was killed in battle in Iraq in September 2006, and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in April. But fear is no match for my Faith. While the SEALs vigilantly watched for enemy activity, an insurgent threw a hand grenade from an unseen location, which bounced off Petty Officer Monsoor's chest and landed in front of him. Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. He chose them.. Michael Monsoor is the second Zumwalt-class destroyer to enter the fleet. Rose, thanks for bringing this story to life and adding it to the library of literature on Medal of Honor recipients. He attended Dr. Walter C. Ralston Intermediate School and Garden Grove High School in Garden Grove, California and played tight-end on the school's football team, graduating in 1999. But I know that, he died doing something he loved. Unrelated, Chris Kyle operated on the far western side of the city in support of additional special warfare operations; he reportedly killed 84 insurgents. They had been through enough. Thank you for all that you are doing to bring awareness to our wonderful veterans. There was only one access point for entry or exit and Monsoor was the only one who could have saved himself from harm. One of the lessons here that I think folks learned, and it's kind of interesting, is Michael had asthma as a kid and had to overcome all the medical challenges that go through childhood when you can't breathe when you have an asthma problem. Michael Monsoor joined the United States Navy in about March of 2001. FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY AS AUTOMATIC WEAPONS GUNNER FOR NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE TASK GROUP ARABIAN PENINSULA, IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM ON 29 SEPTEMBER 2006. While moving toward extraction, the Iraqi Army and Naval Special Warfare overwatch team received effective enemy automatic weapons fire resulting in one SEAL wounded in action. After further training he was assigned to Delta Platoon, SEAL Team Three. Because of Petty Officer Monsoor's actions, he saved the lives of his 3 teammates and the IA soldiers. [16], In 2011, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs honored Monsoor by naming one of the first three named streets at Miramar National Cemetery after him. The unit symbol is composed of Petty Officer Monsoor's Medal of Honor, SEAL Trident, and Master-at-Arms shield. More importantly, how different groups whether it be at Fort Campbell or at Pendleton or in Norfolk, at churches, how wanted to make sure his name and his story in his sacrifice continued on. Those chaplains of whatever denomination are doing great work with our men and I was really interested to read that Michael Monsoor, this Medal of Honor recipient, had that kind of relationship with that kind of chaplain when he was in Iraq. or redistributed. Even before I jumped into really writing the story, I had no idea that he quit BUD/S once. Michael Monsoor was part of a dedicated team fighting the insurgency in Iraq, supporting the U.S. in its efforts to bring peace and stability to that country. Rea: It was my pleasure and it's been such a joy speaking with you. His funeral in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego was attended by nearly every SEAL on the West Coast, President Bush said. He will receive the award for his actions in Ar Ramadi, Iraq on Sept. 29, 2006. You had a chance to talk to some of these men. He remained fearless while facing constant danger, and through his selfless nature and aggressive actions, saved the lives of coalition soldiers and his fellow SEALs. Not everyone has made a comprehensive story yet, so the sacrifice lives on I think in the sense of these guys and his parents. As a communicator and machine-gunner on patrols, Monsoor carried 100 pounds (45kg) of gear in temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Demitrius J. Williams). However, I was patient but I just kept nudging and saying this is such a profound story. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Rea: Jim, I was able to interview the childhood friend, who also became a SEAL which is so cool - behind-the-scenes little tidbit there. 1927-2021. The Mountain Warfare Training Facility Camp Michael Monsoor is located 50 miles east of San Diego, near the city of Campo. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He graduated in September 2004 and joined SEAL Team 3 in 2005. MASTER AT ARMS SECOND CLASS, SEA, AIR and LAND Navy Narrative:On 29 September (2006), Monsoor was part of a sniper overwatch security position in eastern Ramadi, Iraq, with three other SEALs and eight Iraqi soldiers. How many times? On the flip side, such gratitude. The ship honors Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who . BY HIS UNDAUNTED COURAGE, FIGHTING SPIRIT, AND UNWAVERING DEVOTION TO DUTY IN THE FACE OF CERTAIN DEATH, PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY, THEREBY REFLECTING GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHOLDING THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE. So, Michael willingly volunteered to stay and continue operating. Imperial Beach Outlying Landing Field. Again, a great story about a terrific young man who made the ultimate sacrifice for his mates - a selfless act. He is survived by his parents, an older sister and two brothers. The 610-foot, 15,000-ton ship, built by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works for the U.S. Navy, was named for Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor. Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor patrols the streets of Iraq while deployed in 2006. The new destroyer is named for Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his . I know these grunts are not just Soldiers and Marines, but fathers and brothers and sons. Tell us about finding those guys and in some measure pulling the stories out to make "Defend Us in Battle.". A 28-year-old Lieutenant, who sustained shrapnel wounds to both legs that day, said the following in crediting Monsoor with saving his life: He never took his eye off the grenade his only movement was down toward it. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Michael, being the man that he was, was aware of everything going on around him. You talk in the book about how he got into sports - hockey and football - and pushed himself to overcome this medical challenge. This is what I said: Ladies and gentlemen. During Operation Kentucky Jumper, a combined Coalition battalion clearance and isolation operation in southern Ar Ramadi, he served as automatic weapons gunner in a combined SEAL and Iraqi Army (IA) sniper overwatch element positioned on a residential rooftop in a violent sector and historical stronghold for insurgents. But there was more of a story there. Lieutenant Commander Jocko Willink, Navy SEAL. Exploit isn't the right word - that happens right? [21][22][23], Michael Monsoor is mentioned in the book of Rorke Denver "Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior".[24]. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, He had three SEALs with him and I think there's one or two Iraqi interpreters. He took a lot on and it says a lot about his character. We were doing his wake after the funeral there. The U.S. Navy's newest vessel, a guided-missile destroyer named the USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001), commissioned on January 27, 2019. As the coffin passed each SEAL, they slapped down the gold Trident each had removed from his own uniform and deeply embedded it into the wooden coffin. Instead, Monsoor chose to protect his comrades by the sacrifice of his own life. He also helped load his wounded teammate into a High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle for evacuation, then returned to combat. I am far away from home. Michael inspired and looked out for his friends his whole life. Fausone: I think that's the bonding that occurs that maybe the civilian population doesn't necessarily appreciate. The overwatch couldnt tell where the RPG came from and didnt return fire., Read Michael Monsoors Summary of Action for September 29th, 2006. They patrolled bravely through the city streets engaging in firefights while on other occasions, they ambushed insurgent mortar teams near the banks of the Euphrates River. George eventually said okay, let's do it. PO2 (EOD2) Mike Monsoor, a Navy Seal, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for jumping on a grenade in Iraq, giving his life to save his fellow Seals. Most of you probably have never heard of it, and we're going to tell it a little bit because Rose went through talking to all of his buddies in the Navy. I remember his mom telling me she said, "Michael you can't do everything," because he just continued to carry the extra load, the extra weight. His funeral in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego . Legal Statement. US Navy Medal of Honor recipient (19812006), Mountain Warfare Training Camp Michael Monsoor, Garden Grove High School Memorial Stadium. Faith conquers all. Michael Monsoor is a hero for all the world to know about and appreciate. On March 31, 2008, the United States Department of Defense confirmed that Monsoor would posthumously receive the Medal of Honor from the president of the United States, George W. Bush, for his valiant and selfless actions to save the lives of his SEAL teammates by sacrificing his own, during combat in Ramadi, Iraq on September 29, 2006. By June 21, 2022 springhill elementary school calendar on michael monsoor funeral June 21, 2022 springhill elementary school calendar on michael monsoor funeral Let's let certain things be, right? Michael was the closest one where he could have jumped away from it, but the other three could not have. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, All Major Military Award Recipients (PDF), Medal of Honor Recipient's Story of Overcoming Obstacles and Sacrifice, Transcript of Veterans Radio Host Jim Fausone's Interview with. I have looked at this picture over and over again and it speaks to me. Commander, Navy Installations Command | 716 Sicard Street SE Suite 1000 | Washington DC, 20374-5140 Official U.S. Navy Website They weren't Navy SEALs. I mean that's crushing. Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously in a ceremony at the White House April 8, 2008. Petty Officer Second Class Michael Anthony Monsoor was born April 5, 1981 in Long Beach, Calif. Michael grew up in Garden Grove, Calif., as the third of four children of George and Sally Monsoor. The Navy has its own traditions. She was 94 years old. I mean, you can imagine Michael who gave everything he had to have to hang up and quit and ring that bell and be viewed by all of his classmates as a quitter. That picture says so much. Actually, there is a neat little memorial section in the back of the book that, yes there are these incredible memorials to him, but what I thought to point out is that the most powerful memorials right now are of all the sons of the brothers he saved who were named after him. Michael Monsoor is a hero for all the world to know about and appreciate. We've talked a little bit about the reaction to this sacrifice, but does the family feel that the sacrifice going forward in a ripple effect, will that continue to go forward? On January 26, 2019, the U.S. Navy commissioned a ship named the USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001). You had winemakers make a special wine for him. Monsoor was a Navy SEAL deployed to Iraq in April 2006. Michael definitely inspired him in that, Michael was a SEAL first. Monsoor was the . Acting as the senior leader by leading a team of 3. When Mike died, a picture of him circulated the news. Posted by 7 years ago. Petty Officer Monsoor maintained suppressive fire as the wounded SEAL received tactical casualty treatment to his leg. Through this ship: Michael Monsoor will still represent the very best our country has to offer.
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