Michael A Monsoor
Michael A Monsoor was born on the 5th of April, 1981, in Long Beach California to Sally and George. As a child, Michael suffered from asthma and managed to strengthened his lungs in the family’s swimming pool by racing his siblings. While attending Garden Grove High School, he played tight-end on the school’s football team and graduated in 1999. Soon after high school, Michael went on to enlist in the US Navy on the 21st of March, 2001 and attended basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois. Once he graduated, Michael went on to Quartermaster “A” School and then to Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy. In September of 2004, Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training class 250 would graduate and Michael was one of its top performers. He then attended advanced SEAL courses, such as, Parachute Training at Basic Airborne School, Cold Weather Combat Training in Kodiak, Alaska, and six months of SEAL Qualification training in Coronado, California. In April of 2005, Michael was assigned to Delta Platoon, SEAL team 3 and his rating changed from Quartermaster to Master-at-Arms.
In April of 2006, SEAL team 3 was sent to Ramadi, Iraq in support of Operation Kentucky Jumper. Here, they were assigned to train Iraqi Army soldiers and Michael was a communicator and machine gunner while out on patrols. He was often the point man in front of the platoon and during the first five months of the deployment, the team reportedly killed 84 insurgents. This team was led by Jock Willink and also included Chris Kyle. Michael had ran into continuous insurgent gunfire during a May 9th engagement in order to rescue an injured comrade, for which he was aware the Silver Star, in addition to the Bronze Star for his service in Iraq. It was Michael’s actions on the 29th of September, 2006 that saved the life of his teammates, and earned him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:
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. 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. In the early morning, insurgents prepared to execute a coordinated attack by reconnoitering the area around the element's position. Element snipers thwarted the enemy's initial attempt by eliminating two insurgents. The enemy continued to assault the element, engaging them with a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. 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. Although only he could have escaped the blast, Petty Officer Monsoor chose instead to protect his teammates. 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. 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.
Two other SEALs were by Michael’s side and although injured, survived the blast thanks to Michael’s actions. He was evacuated immediately yet still died 30 minutes later. His funeral was held at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and nearly every Navy SEAL was in attendance and as the coffin passed by two columns of SEALs, they each slapped down their own golden SEAL Trident onto the coffin and embedded it into the wood. This went on for nearly 30 minutes and President Bush later said, “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.”
On the 8th of April, 2008, President Bush presented the Medal of Honor to Michael’s parents in a ceremony at the White House and in the following months and years, a street, a Zumwalt-class destroyer, a Mountain Warfare training camp, a Naval Sea Cadet Corps unit, and a stadium in Michael’s hometown, all bear the name of Michael A Monsoor.
