[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". AS ENEMY ACTIVITY INCREASED, PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR TOOK POSITION WITH HIS MACHINE GUN BETWEEN TWO TEAMMATES ON AN OUTCROPPING OF THE ROOF. Michael Monsoor was there in the midst of it all. He was not afraid. Ramadi had been a violent and intense area for a very strong and aggressive insurgency for some time. When a grenade thrown by insurgents bounced off Michael's chest, he could have escaped. Click to read President Bush's full speech at Monsoor's Medal of Honor ceremony. One of them belongs to Michael Monsoor. The Navy's newest Zumwalt-class destroyer, USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), was commissioned Jan. 26 at Naval Air Station North Island, California. "He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs'' lives, and we owe him." One of Navy's new stealthy destroyers enters Puget Sound for visit 'MI5 exists to stop atrocities. Monsoor quickly smothered the grenade with his body, absorbing the resulting explosion and saving his comrades from serious injury or death. Legal Statement. All rights reserved. "And when it was all over, the simple wooden coffin had become a gold-plated memorial to a hero who will never be forgotten.. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Michael Monsoor joined the United States Navy in about March of 2001. The SEALs fired back and stood their ground. Fausone: I think that's the bonding that occurs that maybe the civilian population doesn't necessarily appreciate. Who was I named after? Monsoors body shielded the others from the brunt of the fragmentation blast and two other SEALs were only wounded by the remaining blast.. I've met him and interviewed him and now I get it. A Fitting Tribute to a Slain Navy SEAL Gains Attention BECOMING COUSTEAU Liz Garbus, Dan Cogan; COW Andrea Arnold, Kat Mansoor; FLEE Jonas Poher Rasmussen. USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) - Navy - Source From the US Navy: Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael Anthony Monsoor. Although only . Rea: It's so true. [9], The display moved many attending the funeral, including President Bush, who spoke about the incident later during a speech stating: "The procession went on nearly half an hour, and when it was all over, the simple wooden coffin had become a gold-plated memorial to a hero who will never be forgotten."[9]. () - Wikipedia On that day, Monsoor was part of a sniper overwatch security position with three other SEALs and eight Iraqi Army (IA) soldiers. SAN DIEGO - Zumwalt-class destroyer USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) held a change of command. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Mission and Vision. I want to hold my nephews and nieces again. Ramadi at the time was the epicenter of the insurgency in Iraq, a city filled with peril. You tell the story of Michael improving himself and getting through BUD/S. Not everyone has made a comprehensive story yet, so the sacrifice lives on I think in the sense of these guys and his parents. Monsoor, a 25-year-old gunner, was killed in the explosion in Ramadi, west of Baghdad. His funeral in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego . As shown at the end of the tribute video linked below, during Monsoor's funeral service, as the casket was taken from the hearse to the gravesite, fellow SEALs . The grenade hit Monsoor in the chest and fell onto the floor. And Michael turned all of that away, Jim because he believed in a bigger ideal. ELEMENT SNIPERS THWARTED THE ENEMYS INITIAL ATTEMPT BY ELIMINATING TWO INSURGENTS. This voice says to me: I am patrolling through the streets of Ramadi. 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. His selfless, decisive, heroic actions resulted in 25 enemy killed and saved the lives of his teammates, other Coalition Forces and Iraqi Army soldiers. The 610-foot, 15,000 ton USS Michael Monsoor is the U.S. Navy's second Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer and named after fallen Navy SEAL. Installations. As for his family, please accept my deepest sympathy. I had no idea. 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. In September 2006, Michael laid down his life for his brothers in arms. For service as set forth in the following CITATION: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Automatic Weapons Gunner for Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 29 September 2006. He knew some of these guys were going home early, it's called turnover. 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. And Jesse Ventura was in thereI was at the other end of the bar, but he said something kind of derogatory toward us losing guys or whatever and . It's still hard for the men he saved - I would say 100% they feel a sense of guilt. Two other SEALs next to him at the time were injured by the explosion but survived. The ultimate friend. Monsoor died about 30 minutes later from wounds caused by the grenade explosion. Stealthy $4.6 billion Navy destroyer set to make its San Diego debut They were down below, I think they're reinforcing some fencing with security measures and whatnot and then Michael and the other SEALs were on rooftops. These men who are in the field with the Warriors give great counsel, and great solace. He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. Read Michael Monsoors Summary of Action for September 29th, 2006, As Kristen Scharnberg of the ChicagoTribune summarized in tribute, The men who were there that day say they could see the options flicker across Michael Mansoors face: save himself or save the men he had long considered brothers. His life and unfortunate death are inspiring. Additionally, a nearby mosque called insurgents to arms to fight Coalition Forces. During Mike Monsoors funeral in San Diego, as his coffin was being moved from the hearse to the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEALs were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route forming a column of twos, with the coffin moving up the center. Let me set this up a little bit. TIL during the funeral of Navy SEAL Michael A. Monsoor, every Navy SEAL on the West Coast came to the funeral, took off their golden trident off of there own uniform and slapped it onto his wooden coffin covering the whole coffin in golden tridents. Thank-you again for Michael's service and your sacrifice. You quit. [5][6], Monsoor enlisted in the United States Navy on March 24, 2001, and attended Basic Training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois. Rea: It was my pleasure and it's been such a joy speaking with you. Michael Monsoor - Home of Heroes During combat patrols he walked behind the platoon point man with his Mk 48 machinegun so that he could protect his platoon from a frontal enemy attack. 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. Together, we live in dust and dirt and filth. People need to know what he gave for his country, what he gave up willingly and so that started everything. At his Oct. 12 funeral, as the e-mail states, Navy SEALs took their trident pins and pounded them . I served with him in the Military and I can tell you that he was humble and would do just about anything asked of him to help. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. [3][5], Monsoor was described as a "quiet professional" and a "fun-loving guy" by those who knew him. Monsoor yelled, Grenade! and dropped on top of the grenade prior to it exploding. He gave his life to protect comrades . His sacrifice has not gone unnoticed. There was no other option for him. And because of that, his men were able to get to safety. 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. On January 26, 2019, the U.S. Navy commissioned a ship named the USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001). He bore the weight without a single complaint, even in the midst of the 130 degree Western Iraqi summer. He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs lives, and we owe him., As Kristen Scharnberg of the ChicagoTribune summarized in tribute, The men who were there that day say they could see the options flicker across Michael Mansoors face: save himself or save the men he had long considered brothers. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. He is survived by his mother Sally, his father George, his sister Sara, and his two brothers James and Joseph. He immediately leapt to his feet and yelled "grenade" to alert his teammates of impending danger, but they could not evacuate the sniper hide-sight in time to escape harm. Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor patrols the streets of Iraq while deployed in 2006. Descripcin. This electronic book is available for free download and printing from www.homeofheroes.com. They had lost their son and it's been a lot. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He was gifted at everything he did, hard-working, funny, and selfless. He also helped load his wounded teammate into a High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle for evacuation, then returned to combat. He ran out into the street with another SEAL, shot cover fire and dragged his comrade to safety while enemy bullets kicked up the concrete at their feet. 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. AS A MEMBER OF A COMBINED SEAL AND IRAQI ARMY SNIPER OVERWATCH ELEMENT, TASKED WITH PROVIDING EARLY WARNING AND STAND-OFF PROTECTION FROM A ROOFTOP IN AN INSURGENT HELD SECTOR OF AR RAMADI, IRAQ, PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY HIS EXCEPTIONAL BRAVERY IN THE FACE OF GRAVE DANGER. The enemy continued to assault the element, engaging them with a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. It was the Army, the first of the 506 Battalion. USS Michael Monsoor Commissioning Ceremony Honors Legacy - California On 15 operations, he carried a rucksack full of communications equipment in addition to his machinegun and full ammunition load-out. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. All Rights Reserved. and jumped onto the grenade, covering it with his body. A couple of other things that I think go to his character, which ultimately leads to him making the ultimate sacrifice, his commanding officer in Ramadi in the Spring of 2006 was Lieutenant Commander Jocko Willink. An insurgent closed in and threw a fragmentation grenade into the overwatch position. The ship honors Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who . They really didn't - it was definitely something. We're talking to Rose Rea and she wrote the book, "Defend Us in Battle," with George Monsoor who's the father of Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor, who received the Medal of Honor from President George Bush back in 2008 for his actions in 2006 in Iraq. October 14, 2019 | Fort Sam Houston, TX. As a member of a combined SEAL and Iraqi Army sniper overwatch element, tasked with providing early warning and stand-off protection from a rooftop in an insurgent-held sector of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by his exceptional bravery in the face of grave danger. Security services could have stopped Manchester Arena attack if they acted on intelligence, and bomber's own family 'holds significant responsibility' for his radicalisation, damning report finds As his Task Unit Commander, I was asked to speak at a ceremony at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., where his parents were presented with the Medal of Honor Flag. 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. or redistributed. Just like Marine Corps Sgt Rafael Peralta before him he jumped on a grenade to save the lives of the other Navy Seals in his snipers nest:. Monsoor was born April 5, 1981, in Long Beach, California, the third of four children of Sally Ann (Boyle) and George Paul Monsoor. He had been assigned to protect fellow SEALs on a rooftop in Ramadi, Iraq, when a fierce firefight with insurgents broke out. I enlisted because of people like him, because of people who are willing to fight and die for their fellow man. Home Haller Motorworx & Farm Equipment Magazine, AR 479 969-6464. However, I was patient but I just kept nudging and saying this is such a profound story. The following month, his rating changed from Quartermaster to Master-at-Arms, and he was assigned to SEAL Team 3 Delta Platoon. 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. 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. The parents of Master-At-Arms 2nd Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor accepted the nation's highest military honor on behalf of their son during a White House ceremony April 8, 2008. An incredible athlete, Mike enjoyed snowboarding, body boarding, spear fishing, motorcycle riding, and driving his Corvette. Fausone: I've had the chance to write on and interview a number of chaplains. The overwatch couldnt tell where the RPG came from and didnt return fire.A couple of hours later, an insurgency fighter closed on the overwatch position and threw a fragment grenade into the overwatch position which hit Monsoor in the chest before falling in front of him. You had winemakers make a special wine for him. He went back. I miss my mother, my father, my sister, and my brothers. 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 weren't Navy SEALs. Faced with the choice to save his comrades or save himself, Monsoor threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the impact. He graduated in September 2004 and joined SEAL Team 3 in 2005. [19], There is a U.S. As the coffin passed, video shows each SEAL slapping down the gold Trident from his uniform and deeply embedding it in Monsoor's wooden coffin. Portrait of Medal of Honor recipient Michael Monsoor. The U.S. Navy's newest vessel, a guided-missile destroyer named the USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001), commissioned on January 27, 2019. Bush awards Medal of Honor to Navy SEAL Medal of Honor - Mike Monsoor | Snopes.com He will receive the award for his actions in Ar Ramadi, Iraq on Sept. 29, 2006. I have looked at this picture over and over again and it speaks to me. As Mikes coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin. It is a city devastated by war. And just as Mikey Monsoor did, the USS Michael Monsoor will go forward, willingly into harms wayand will stand tall without hesitation or regrets and face down evil and malevolence, saying boldly to the world: I WILL DEFEND. MASTER AT ARMS SECOND CLASS, SEA, AIR and LAND As we bridge this, Father Halladay, Michael's faith, and the family's faith. It is obviously very humbling to be here today, as it was humbling to be on the battlefield of Ramadi with my fellow SEALs and 2/28 Brigade Combat Team, the Iron Soldiers, and then 1/1 AD, the Ready First Combat Team, which was formed up by our brothers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines and included such hallowed units as the 1st of the 506th Band of brothers, the 1-37 Bandits, and the 3/8 Marines. Mountain Warfare Training Camp Michael Monsoor. And that's what it is. 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. : USS Michael Monsoor DDG-1001 2. SEAL's Name", Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training, jumped onto the grenade, covering it with his body, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, "Complications Grow for Muslims Serving in U.S. Military", "Sailor Killed in Iraq Awarded Medal of Honor", "A Fitting Tribute to a Slain Navy SEAL Gains Attention", "Medal of Honor for Navy Officer in Iraq", "President Bush Attends Medal of Honor Ceremony for Petty Officer Michael A. Monsoor, U.S. Navy", "U.S. Navy Recipients of the Silver Medal for Actions Since September 11, 2001", "Monsoor Avenue, Krulak Way at new vets cemetery", "SECNAV Names New Zumwalt-Class Destroyer USS Michael Monsoor", "Department of the Navy Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Budget Estimates Justification of Estimates February 2018", "Dedication event for Monsoor Stadium set", "Garden Grove High School dedicates new stadium in honor of fallen war hero", "Navy SEAL who sacrificed life for team honored at school in Southern California", "Navy SEAL's sacrifice earns Medal of Honor", "Pentagon-sourced video clip of White House ceremony honoring Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_A._Monsoor&oldid=1135657594, United States Navy personnel of the Iraq War, United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients, American military personnel killed in the Iraq War, Burials at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Iraq War recipients of the Medal of Honor, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with dead external links from January 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 01:00. USS Michael Monsoor is the second of three Zumwalt-class destroyers ordered by the Navy. You see those friendships that were deep in there. [5], During an engagement on May 9, 2006, Monsoor ran into a street while under continuous insurgent gunfire to rescue an injured comrade. I thought that was just so powerful. We're his siblings, just let us be. It is the first Navy combat ship named for fallen Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (SEAL) Michael Monsoor, who was posthumously . We worked hand-in-hand and one by one with his teammates. This was one of the last missions, which is just even worse. He was located closest to the egress route out of the sniper hide-sight watching for enemy activity through a tactical periscope over the parapet wall. Thank-you for Michael's service & his and your sacrifices. 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? His funeral took place in October 12, 2006 at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.Other Navy SEALs lined the procession and slapped the trident devices from their uniforms to affix them onto the casket. Navy SEAL Killed in Iraq Receives Medal of Honor : NPR Michael died thirty minutes later, having made the ultimate sacrifice. Michael Anthony Monsoor was born on 5 April 1981 in Long Beach, CA, the third of four children born to George and Sally Monsoor. Two SEALs next to Monsoor were injured; another who was 10 to 15 feet from the blast was unhurt. The Navy's newest destroyer, the Michael Monsoor, is as much an Rea: It did after and he was able to say that to them when they met him after he had passed away. 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. Instead, Monsoor chose to protect his comrades by the sacrifice of his own life. 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. Exactly with that weapon, he was providing cover fire. I was part of their community. 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. Thank you so much for having me and for filling your listeners in a little bit. I wasn't just a random person off the street. Not out of any sort of reason other than just letting us be. Those memories will always be within those children, which I love. Two SEALs next to Monsoor were injured . 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. Act of Valor and the Navy SEALs that Inspired the Movie's Realism He displayed great personal courage and exceptional bravery while conducting operations in enemy held territory at Ar Ramadi Iraq. And while there is no way that a steel and iron ship can ever replace the flesh and blood that was Michael Monsoor, at the same time, there is no more fitting memorial to him than a warship. May 7, 1976 - June 28, 2005. Get email updates about Michael A. Monsoor delivered directly to your inbox. USS Michael Monsoor, USS Coronado Arrive in Portland Fausone: There are a number of lessons, and I think we hold these men who receive the Medal of Honor so highly that we can learn some lessons. We put in the story what he told his mom or brother - he said you'll have to drag my dead body off the beach before I quit again. 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. The Navy has operated on the 1,300 plus acres since the early 1960s, and is seeking to set aside an additional 4,486 acres of federal . [6], On September 29, 2006, Monsoor's platoon engaged four insurgents in a firefight in Ramadi, killing one and injuring another. Michael, being the man that he was, was aware of everything going on around him. Requiescate in pace. So, Michael willingly volunteered to stay and continue operating. "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. So it just marries together so many wonderful stories and memories. MI5 is forced to apologise for not preventing Manchester Arena attack Copyright 2018 by Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC Monsoor described as an "outgoing guy" by his grandfather, George Monsoor, Sr. was killed on Sept. 29, 2006. On September 29, 2006, in the war-torn city of Ramadi, Iraq, Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael Monsoor, or Mikey as we called him, smothered a grenade with his body to save three of his teammates. STEVE INSKEEP, host: The White House is about to bestow the highest military award on a Navy SEAL from Southern California. [5][6], A grenade was thrown onto the rooftop by an insurgent on the street below. On the flip side, such gratitude. And then he had communications equipment. Copyright 2023 Navy SEALs. I think George will fight for his son and stand up for his memory his whole life. INSTANTLY AND WITHOUT REGARD FOR HIS OWN SAFETY, HE THREW HIMSELF ONTO THE GRENADE TO ABSORB THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION WITH HIS BODY, SAVING THE LIVES OF HIS TWO TEAMMATES. Really what Michael appreciated over there was strength. . He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on 29 September 2006. The text of his citation reads: For service as set forth in the following. Such an amazing man! He really wanted to protect them. It is the first Navy combat ship named for fallen Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (SEAL) Michael Monsoor, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions while serving in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006. The following month, his rating changed from Quartermaster to Master-at-Arms, and he was assigned to Delta Platoon, SEAL Team 3.[3][7]. This gun is nicknamed "The Pig" because of its squealing sound and because there's so much force when they're shooting it. I think there's a lesson for all of us here, isn't there? MICHAEL A. MONSOOR OBITUARY - Legacy.com 120. And every day, brave men continued to push forward, into the fray. Michael Monsoor is a hero for all the world to know about and appreciate. The eRumor describes the funeral of Navy petty officer Mike Monsoor, who lost is own life in Iraq to save the lives of other Navy SEALs. 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. His sacrifice has not gone unnoticed. On September 29, 2006, Ramadi, Iraq was considered the most dangerous city on planet earth for American servicemen. Ahead of the ceremony, Master-At-Arms 2nd Cl. Petty Officer Monsoor maintained suppressive fire as the wounded SEAL received tactical casualty treatment to his leg. Click to see a video showing the SEALs' tribute to Monsoor on YouTube. A couple of hours later, an insurgency fighter closed on the overwatch position and threw a fragment grenade into the overwatch position which hit Monsoor in the chest before falling in front of him.

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