This was definitely one of last night’s highlights. Michael Monsoor’s Medal of Honor citation:
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. 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.
SIGNED GEORGE W. BUSH
Video: Navy Life iPhone App Introduction
Official Navy iPhone/iPod Touch application providing information about important quality of life resources for Navy personnel, retirees and their families. Created by Commander, Navy Installations Command’s Fleet and Family Readiness...
Democratic National Convention 2008: Barack Obama Assassination Plot Update
Unfortunately, it’s looking like there is some substance to the reports of an assassination plot: CBS4 has now learned at least four people are under arrest in connection with a...
Will We See Joe Lieberman at the Republican National Convention and Will the Democrats Boot Him if He Appears?
Joe Lieberman is passionate about national security. His party? Not so much: In his office, Lieberman had practiced answers and nondenial denials for the litany of questions he had received:...
Conservative Bloggers Pick Most & Least Desired 2008 Republican Nominee
Fred Thompson won easily. Ron Paul won the least desirable poll just as easily. At least he finally won a poll without the no-lifer click brigade swaying the results. The...
President Bush to Award Medal of Honor to Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham
“He was a real Marine” One day in April 2004, Cpl. Jason Dunham and his men were patrolling an insurgent stronghold near the Syrian border when an Iraqi leapt out...
We do not fight for country, we fight for those around us. No higher honor can be bestowed upon us than to fight for our brothers and save them. The MOH is a great token but his brothers he fought with give him the higher honor of fighting on and preserving his memory forever. They know he did it for them, no other high ideals can suffice in a time like this. I am humbled by his sacrifice and stand ready to defend my brothers whenever needed.
If you watched the video tribute to John McCain on Thursday night, you might have seen this part:
John McCain’s father visits the border between North and South Vietnam to gaze for hours into the North, since his son (John) is imprisoned in downtown Hanoi. The video states that his father ordered the “carpet bombing” of Hanoi even though he know his son was imprisoned somewhere in the city.
Now, I suppose since it’s in the video, this is something America and the McCain’s are suppose to be proud of. However, in case anyone doesn’t know the definition of carpet bombing…here’s Webster’s reference: 1 : to drop large numbers of bombs so as to cause uniform devastation over (a given area)
I have actually visited Vietnam 2X and Hanoi once. I’m no fan of their government but I found the people to be wonderful human beings. Carpet bombing is a crime against humanity. These people were subjected to the worst bombing in the history of the world – no exaggeration – there were more bombs dropped on Vietnam by US forces than all the bombs dropped in WWII (8 million tons vs 2 million tons by ALL forces in WWII).
Then we have a Republican National Convention that tries to gain sympathy for McCain by mentioning his dad ordered the carpet bombing of a city full of innocent civilians – women, children, US prisoners, etc. AND they’re actually proud of it. I can’t believe the world is still so sick.
War is hell, always has been, always will be.
War is necessary to overcome evil in the world and threats to our way of life.
Carpet bombing is not a crime against humanity. It wasn’t in WWII, Korea, or Vietnam, and isn’t today. It is a necessary tool of war. With today’s laser guided and GPS guided munitions, carpet bombing isn’t used anywhere near as frequently. The carpet bombing used in WWII and Vietnam were used to destroy manufacturing centers that built weapons, planes, tanks, etc., that were used against us. Yes, some civilians were killed, but that does not make it a “crime against humanity”, the term usually used by the anti-war crowd. Carpet bombing was used to cripple the production of machinery, weapons, oil, and supplies to be used against our forces…period. In war, you do what you have to do to survive and/or be victorious. Victory is the only way to defeat an enemy.
Some people’s minds are so distorted that they can’t comprehend that we have to do whatever it takes to defeat the people that want to ruin our country, way of life, and/or kill us.
Proud son of USAF Vet (1943-2004, Rest in peace dad)
Sincerely,
a Law Enforcement Officer
I was very surprized by the editorial review of this young hero’s life for political gain. While I appreciate the fact that McCain is a veteran and a war hero himself, I thought the presentation of this young mans life and death played out in a Republican convention was inappropriate and not dignified or fitting a hero’s ultimate sacrifice. It seemed to me to be a cheap trick to glorify the Republicans instead of a sincere and dedicated tribute to this brave young man’s legacy.