Give us a little bit about how George is thinking about this, how the rest of the family is thinking about this? He really wanted to protect them. What we do have preserved in the book are all those stories she shared, gems, so many she hadn't shared with the world. He took a lot on and it says a lot about his character. 1. Rea: It was my pleasure and it's been such a joy speaking with you. Two other SEALs next to him at the time were injured by the explosion but survived. The action for which he ultimately received the Medal of Honor occurred in September 2006 when he was on a rooftop post in Ramadi, Iraq and we'll tell that story. 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. I miss my mother, my father, my sister, and my brothers. Petty Officer Monsoor was the Platoon Machine Gunner of an overwatch element, providing security for an Iraqi Army Brigade during counter-insurgency operations. Legal Statement. 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. And then from George and Sally's perspective, knowing bits and pieces people do know. Monsoor died about 30 minutes later from wounds caused by the grenade explosion. 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. I don't think any of us can sit back and think oh it's so easy for everyone else, but it's hard for us to see past our own difficulty sometimes. Michael just took all that on and he was never one to back down from anything. Monica Hellstrm; THE RESCUE Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, John Battsek, P. J. van . During the Battle of Ramadi, SEAL Team Three was sent to Ramadi, Iraq in April 2006 and assigned to train Iraqi Army soldiers. Naval Sea Cadet Corps unit named the "Michael A. Monsoor Battalion" based in Camp Pendleton, California. Though he carried himself in a calm and composed fashion, he constantly led the charge to bring the fight to the enemy. So my husband brings this book home and there's one paragraph - that's all it was - one paragraph. 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 the . Fausone: I think that's one of the lessons, right? Michael Anthony Monsoor (April 5, 1981 - September 29, 2006) was a United States Navy SEAL who was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. 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. [2] His father also served in the United States military as a Marine. Mikes gun is at the ready. 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. 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. Legal Statement. President Bush on Tuesday said, "The Medal of Honor is America's highest decoration for military valor. 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. But he didn't give up, he quit but he didn't give up. But, he didn't give up. His face is calm, almost smilingdespite the obvious chaos and danger around him. Our strength is our brotherhood. The overwatch couldnt tell where the RPG came from and didnt return fire., Read Michael Monsoors Summary of Action for September 29th, 2006. 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 (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter Burghart/Released). The U.S. Navy's newest vessel, a guided-missile destroyer named the USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001), commissioned on January 27, 2019. A Navy SEAL sacrificed his life to save his comrades by throwing himself on top of a grenade Iraqi insurgents tossed into their sniper hideout, fellow members of the elite force said. 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. Copyright 2018 by Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC So it just marries together so many wonderful stories and memories. His leadership, guidance and decisive actions during 11 different combat operations saved the lives of his teammates, other Coalition Forces and Iraqi Army soldiers. 2006 And his story offers some perspective on the long war in Iraq and the chaos there today. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, fighting together. April 5, 1981 - Sept. 29, 2006. 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. And even the siblings of course, because they don't know all the operations he went on either. October 14, 2019 | Fort Sam Houston, TX. US Navy Medal of Honor recipient (19812006), Mountain Warfare Training Camp Michael Monsoor, Garden Grove High School Memorial Stadium. Michael, being the man that he was, was aware of everything going on around him. The SEALs fired back and stood their ground. As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. Really what Michael appreciated over there was strength. I can't speak for him, but I assume that's why he kept it to himself. Thank-you for raising such a great son. After BUD/S, he completed advanced SEAL training courses including parachute training at Basic Airborne School, Fort Benning, Ga., cold weather combat training in Kodiak, Alaska, and six months of SEAL Qualification Training in Coronado, graduating in March 2005. He chose them. On that day, Monsoor was part of a sniper overwatch security position with three other SEALs and eight Iraqi Army (IA) soldiers. Michael died thirty minutes later, having made the ultimate sacrifice. Fausone: Again, it's one of those things that demonstrates his character. Around midday, the exterior of the building was struck by a single rocket propelled grenade (RPG), but no injuries to any of the overwatch personnel were sustained. [18], A SEAL training facilitylocated about 50 miles (80km) east of San Diegowas renamed Mountain Warfare Training Camp Michael Monsoor. They made him an honorary Chief because if he was alive, he still would have been. He's heading into his 20th year of service this summer. USS Michael Monsoor is the second of three Zumwalt-class destroyers ordered by the Navy. I had no idea. You talk in the book about how he got into sports - hockey and football - and pushed himself to overcome this medical challenge. 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 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, 25, was killed in combat Sept. 29 in Ramadi, Iraq, west of Baghdad. 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 has a grateful nation forever in his debt! Fausone: Well sometimes this arc is just perfect, and I think that was a good example of it. He graduated in September 2004 and joined SEAL Team 3 in 2005. You quit. 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. As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. His funeral in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego was attended by nearly every SEAL on the West Coast, President Bush said. Palatial properties along the Intracoastal Waterway, the St. Johns and the Beaches dominated the list of . 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. They weren't Navy SEALs. The symbolic display moved many, included Bush, who during his speech in April's Medal of Honor ceremony spoke about the incident. So, Michael willingly volunteered to stay and continue operating. Delta Platoon was sent to Iraq in April 2006 and assigned to train Iraqi Army soldiers in Ramadi. AS ENEMY ACTIVITY INCREASED, PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR TOOK POSITION WITH HIS MACHINE GUN BETWEEN TWO TEAMMATES ON AN OUTCROPPING OF THE ROOF. As you tell the story in "Defend Us in Battle," it seemed like the guys knew he knew he was taking on this extra responsibility to have their back. The Navy on Saturday christened the guided missile destroyer USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001), named in honor of a Navy SEAL who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Iraq. Forever the May Queen . [5][6], Monsoor enlisted in the United States Navy on March 24, 2001, and attended Basic Training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois. I've met him and interviewed him and now I get it. 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. 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. Monsoor died approximately 30 minutes later from wounds sustained from the blast. All rights reserved. 1927-2021. Michael obviously knew what was going down, as he was operating on this nightly basis. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Kind of related to how that gift continues to ripple forward. The unit symbol is composed of Petty Officer Monsoor's Medal of Honor, SEAL Trident, and Master-at-Arms shield. The ship honors Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of . 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 25-year-old Michael Monsoor. They flew him back over to do the honors. 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. 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. Anticipating further attacks, Monsoor, three SEAL snipers and three Iraqi Army soldiers took up a rooftop position. Contact. Dunbar, Monsoor, SEALS, Monsoor funeral. Michael Monsoor was there in the midst of it all. He had three SEALs with him and I think there's one or two Iraqi interpreters. And in this shipand in its crewMikeys spirit will live on. A fellow Navy Seal who knew and trained with Monsoor told TruthorFiction.com that he had already earned a Silver Star for Bravery and a Bronze Star for separate acts of valor. IN THE EARLY MORNING, INSURGENTS PREPARED TO EXECUTE A COORDINATED ATTACK BY RECONNOITERING THE AREA AROUND THE ELEMENTS POSITION. I wasn't just a random person off the street. Because why my brother and not me? When we're able to read about someone that we would aspire to be or someone who's done something really incredible it is just inspiring. He had this unbreakable little will at such a young age and it was so inspiring. Ahead of the ceremony, Master-At-Arms 2nd Cl. Tell us about finding those guys and in some measure pulling the stories out to make "Defend Us in Battle.".