Legal Statement. Element snipers thwarted the enemy's initial attempt by eliminating two insurgents. 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. And I'm like, who is this? George's son, Michael, is a recipient of the Medal of Honor and we're going to tell Michael's story. His funeral in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego . Hi, I was a volunteer at the Bob Hope USO @ LAX for ten years and currently on occasion volunteer at the USO in San Diego. They said no to me Jim, for two years, because they're so private. The grenade hit him in the chest and bounced onto the deck. The 40th annual San Francisco Fleet Week kicked-off Oct. 4 with ship arrivals bringing together the San Francisco community, Marines, Coastguardsmen and Sailors to . There's a healthy level of mystery or privacy. You quit. During the Battle of Ramadi, SEAL Team Three was sent to Ramadi, Iraq in April 2006 and assigned to train Iraqi Army soldiers. Michael Anthony Monsoor was born on 5 April 1981 in Long Beach, CA, the third of four children born to George and Sally Monsoor. [2] His father also served in the United States military as a Marine. Exploit isn't the right word - that happens right? He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on 29 September 2006. Posted by 7 years ago. [10] Monsoor's parents, Sally and George Monsoor, received the medal on his behalf at an April 8, ceremony at the White House held by the President. In the early morning, insurgents prepared to execute a coordinated attack by reconnoitering the area around the element's position. Fausone: Go ahead and set us up for what happened on September 29, 2006 when Michael and three other snipers were there. 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. Click to see a video showing the SEALs' tribute to Monsoor on YouTube. 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. Monsoor was protecting other SEALs, two of whom were 15 feet away from him. As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. [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. Three Ismaili Muslims were members of parliament, down one from 2019, and State Minister for Peace Sadat Mansoor Naderi is also an Ismaili Muslim. A couple of powerful statements. He was one of the best men I've ever met and although we were merely colleagues, I still mourn his every Memorial Day and September 29th. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. I want to hold my nephews and nieces again. On 15 operations, he carried a rucksack full of communications equipment in addition to his machinegun and full ammunition load-out. We all hit those challenges in life and it's so easy to ring the bell which you do to get out of the BUD/S and SEAL training. The first, USS Zumwalt, is named after Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr., chief of naval operations from 1970 to 1974. Twenty Gold Star families and four Medal of Honor recipients witnessed the second Zumwalt-class destroyer enter the fleet. Forever the May Queen . In that split second, which is all that he had, he jumped on top of it and shielded the blast with his own body. But we are strong. Not much is known of the circumstances surrounding his death, family members said . Figure out what you need to do to get better and get through that challenge. George eventually said okay, let's do it. He continued to provide effective suppressive fire while simultaneously dragging the wounded SEAL to safety. Portrait of Medal of Honor recipient Michael Monsoor. It showed Mike and his platoon mates in the war-torn streets of Ramadi, shrouded in a mist of greenish-yellow smoke, which was used to mask their movement from the enemy. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. He deployed with his platoon to Iraq in April 2006 in support of OperationIraqi Freedom, and was assigned to Task Unit Bravo in Ar Ramadi. 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. The guy who made this special box - almost like a shadow box, but it's a decorative box - he said, "No I want to do this, don't pay me a cent. You record a conversation that George told you he had with Michael. He took a lot on and it says a lot about his character. He was a boy. [20], As part of modernization, Garden Grove High School, where Michael Monsoor attended, dedicated the newly built stadium to him, naming it "Michael Monsoor Memorial Stadium". The following month, his rating changed from Quartermaster to Master-at-Arms, and he was assigned to Delta Platoon, SEAL Team 3.[3][7]. [1] He enlisted in the United States Navy in 2001 and graduated from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training BUD/S class 250 in 2004. At his funeral in San Diego, California, SEALs lined up on both sides of the route of the pallbearers and loudly slapped gold tridents from their uniforms on the wooden casket as a . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. As someone that had the pleasure of knowing Mikey as a friend, and had the honor of serving with him on the battlefield, this photograph tells me a story. His valorous conduct, exemplary leadership, and extraordinary self-sacrifice for his fellow service members have earned him the highest respect and gratitude of his fellow SEALs, the Navy, and our nation. Received the Silver Star posthumously for previous heroic actions in Iraq on May 9, 2006 when he pulled a wounded teammate to safety while under hostile enemy fire. On 11 different operations, Petty Officer Monsoor exposed himself to heavy enemy fire while shielding his teammates with suppressive fire. As Mikes coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin. 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 . All of the older guys get fun jobs. The 25-year-old California native died in 2006 . IN THE EARLY MORNING, INSURGENTS PREPARED TO EXECUTE A COORDINATED ATTACK BY RECONNOITERING THE AREA AROUND THE ELEMENT'S POSITION. He graduated in September 2004 and joined SEAL Team 3 in 2005. A relationship through how much they loved each other and then this brotherly love which ultimately grows and grows and then at the end, but after you saw how much he cared about his fellow squadmates didn't it almost make sense at the end as devastating as it was. So my husband brings this book home and there's one paragraph - that's all it was - one paragraph. Who has the courage to do that? On September 29, 2006, Ramadi, Iraq was considered the most dangerous city on planet earth for American servicemen. An official website of the United States government, VA Vet Center (Supports vets, service members, and their families), Bush Confers Highest Military Decoration on Fallen Navy SEAL, Navy SEAL to Receive Medal of Honor Posthumously, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. . He was Catholic and he found this incredible priest. Without hesitation and showing no regard for his own life, he threw himself onto the grenade, smothering it to protect his teammates who were lying in close proximity. Monsoors body shielded the others from the brunt of the fragmentation blast and two other SEALs were only wounded by the remaining blast.. I believe I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Mr. Monsoor there. They got him evacuated off the rooftop, and got him as fast as they could back to base, but that's where he passed away. For this brave action, he earned a Silver Star. During the funeral, as the coffin was moving from the hearse to the grave site, Navy SEALs were lined up forming a column of twos on both sides of . From there, God willing, I had the connections because I was a SEAL wife and I was able to reach out to Naval Special Warfare and they put me in touch with Michael's parents. "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. The enemy could not deter Michael and his SEAL platoon. There were so many situations of people who are so moved by his act of charity that they too want to make an act of charity. [3] His father is of Lebanese and Irish descent, and his mother has Irish ancestry. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. As a communicator and machine-gunner on patrols, Monsoor carried 100 pounds (45kg) of gear in temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees. It's really a selfless sacrifice and you end up giving this gift to those who are spared. I feel like it was about a hundred pounds extra the guys were telling me from bullets from his SAW Gun, which you probably could go into more specifics about, but I meant it was a huge automatic weapon. His sacrifice has not gone unnoticed. Rea: I don't think we'll ever understand, Jim. Who was I named after? I have looked at this picture over and over again and it speaks to me. He knew some of these guys were going home early, it's called turnover. [14][15], For heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy as Task Unit Ramadi, Iraq, Combat Advisor for Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula in Support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from April to September 2006. He gave his life to protect comrades . Ramadi had been a violent and intense area for a very strong and aggressive insurgency for some time. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 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. In April 2008, Michael Monsoor . In September 2006, Michael laid down his life for his brothers in arms. April 5, 1981 - Sept. 29, 2006. Anticipating further attacks, Monsoor, three SEAL snipers and three Iraqi Army soldiers took up a rooftop position. AS ENEMY ACTIVITY INCREASED, PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR TOOK POSITION WITH HIS MACHINE GUN BETWEEN TWO TEAMMATES ON AN OUTCROPPING OF THE ROOF. The text of his citation reads: For service as set forth in the following. : USS Michael Monsoor DDG-1001 2. They flew him back over to do the honors. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. When we encounter Iraqi families, I treat them with respect and dignity. Two SEALs next to Monsoor were injured . 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. Mikes gun is at the ready. 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. Monica Hellstrm; THE RESCUE Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, John Battsek, P. J. van . While vigilantly watching for enemy activity, an enemy fighter hurled a hand grenade onto the roof from an unseen location.