You record a conversation that George told you he had with Michael. AS ENEMY ACTIVITY INCREASED, PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR TOOK POSITION WITH HIS MACHINE GUN BETWEEN TWO TEAMMATES ON AN OUTCROPPING OF THE ROOF. This electronic book is available for free download and printing from www.homeofheroes.com. Faith conquers all. They fought in 35 heated firefights; during these incidents Mike shot tens of thousands of 7.62 millimeter rounds to cover Delta Platoon's movement through streets that seemed to be paved with fire. ALTHOUGH ONLY HE COULD HAVE ESCAPED THE BLAST, PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR CHOSE INSTEAD TO PROTECT HIS TEAMMATES. Named for a Medal of Honor recipient and Navy SEAL, USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) will be commissioned Jan. 25.Ahead of the ceremony, Master-At-Arms 2nd Class (SEAL) Michael Monsoor's teammates . Each time I read of Michael's sacrifice I'm so amazed & heartbroken. - Source But, he didn't give up. 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 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. The Mountain Warfare Training Facility Camp Michael Monsoor is located 50 miles east of San Diego, near the city of Campo. While I only had talked to Monsoor for a brief time in BUD/s, he was in the BUD/s class ahead of me in Class 250, he was a dedicated and stand-up guy. You talk in the book about how he got into sports - hockey and football - and pushed himself to overcome this medical challenge. He had this unbreakable little will at such a young age and it was so inspiring. The new destroyer is named for Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his . As a communicator and machine-gunner on patrols, Monsoor carried 100 pounds (45kg) of gear in temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees. There was no other option for him. Michael Anthony Monsoor (April 5, 1981 - September 29, 2006) was a United States Navy SEAL who was killed during Invasion of Iraq and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. It's still hard for the men he saved - I would say 100% they feel a sense of guilt. Fausone: Another person in the book that I think reflects Michael's character is Father Halladay. The Moving Funeral of Petty Officer Mike Monsoor-Truth! 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. . Through this ship: Michael Monsoor will still represent the very best our country has to offer. Aviation_Intel. Copyright 2018 by Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC Give us a little bit about how George is thinking about this, how the rest of the family is thinking about this? Collectively it weighed more than 100 pounds. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. As we trained and prepared to deploy to Iraq, everyone learned that Mike was an incredible person. Strengthening him to do his job was the sacraments - what Catholics use as a Sacrament. [5], During an engagement on May 9, 2006, Monsoor ran into a street while under continuous insurgent gunfire to rescue an injured comrade. 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. Monsoors body shielded the others from the brunt of the fragmentation blast and two other SEALs were only wounded by the remaining blast.. 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 . A warship that proudly bears his name. 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. It was this cool relationship, almost this Brotherhood camaraderie too, between this Navy chaplain priest and Michael. Upon graduation from basic training, he attended Quartermaster "A" School, and then transferred to Naval Air Station, Sigonella, Italy for a short period of time. Rea: Yes. 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 . [5][6], A grenade was thrown onto the rooftop by an insurgent on the street below. She co-wrote a book with George Monsoor. Over the next five months, Monsoor and his platoon frequently engaged in combat with insurgent forces. Summary of eRumor: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. ALTHOUGH ONLY HE COULD HAVE ESCAPED THE BLAST, PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR CHOSE INSTEAD TO PROTECT HIS TEAMMATES. or redistributed. and jumped onto the grenade, covering it with his body. We were doing his wake after the funeral there. 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. Don't consider yourself a loser. All Rights Reserved. I thought that was beautiful and respectful. He was only the second SEAL to die in Iraq since the war began. Legal Statement. "And when it was all over, the simple wooden coffin had become a gold-plated memorial to a hero who will never be forgotten.. Home Haller Motorworx & Farm Equipment Magazine, AR 479 969-6464. Those memories will always be within those children, which I love. 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. MICHAEL A. MONSOOR I've been in the industry for about 15 years now, and nothing has been as meaningful to me as Michael's story - to really kind of uncover it and now share it with the world. After the engagements, the local populace blocked off the roads in the area with rocks to keep civilians away and to warn insurgents of the presence of his Coalition sniper element. And because of that, his men were able to get to safety. Rose Rea: Yes, it is a powerful one. Monsoor was the first Navy SEAL to earn the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq and the second Navy SEAL to receive the award since Sept. 11, 2001. MASTER AT ARMS SECOND CLASS, SEA, AIR and LAND I have looked at this picture over and over again and it speaks to me. It wasn't like someone said something, I meant these really happened. May you always rest in peace knowing that we remember you and your sacrifice. The slaps were audible from across the cemetery; by the time the coffin arrived grave side, it looked as though it had a gold inlay from all the Tridents pinned to it. The Navy has its own traditions. 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. He displayed great personal courage and exceptional bravery while conducting operations in enemy held territory at Ar Ramadi Iraq. He's heading into his 20th year of service this summer. 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. Such an amazing man! I am Michael Monsoor. He wanted him, and to make sure anyone else who wanted to would get home, so he stayed. The grenade exploded seconds later and Monsoor's body absorbed most of the force of the blast. I am far away from home. 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:. Fausone: I think that's the bonding that occurs that maybe the civilian population doesn't necessarily appreciate. They weren't Navy SEALs. Lt. Michael P. Murphy, fondly referred to by friends and family as "Murph," was born May 7, 1976 in Smithtown, N.Y. and grew up in the New York City commuter town . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 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 On that day, he was on a rooftop over-watch in . Then you read about these guys in the story when Michael was in Italy and he was in this waiting pattern to go back to get a second chance. Instantly and without regard for his own . 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. Even before I jumped into really writing the story, I had no idea that he quit BUD/S once. The sad thing is that Michael was ready to die at any time and I'm sure a lot of those guys were, Jim. Although only . He graduated in September 2004 and joined SEAL Team 3 in 2005. The ultimate friend. Michael Anthony Monsoor (5 April 1981 - 29 September 2006) was a U.S. Navy SEAL killed during the Iraq War. He has an older brother James and older sister Sara, and a younger brother Joseph. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, All Major Military Award Recipients (PDF), Medal of Honor Recipient's Story of Overcoming Obstacles and Sacrifice, Transcript of Veterans Radio Host Jim Fausone's Interview with. 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. Talk a little bit about the role and responsibility that goes with being that automatic weapon operator. Michael Anthony Monsoor (April 5, 1981 - September 29, 2006) was a United States Navy SEAL who was killed during the Iraq War and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Instead, he threw himself onto the live grenade, shielding his fellow soldiers from the immediate explosion. Let's let certain things be, right? 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. [2] His father also served in the United States military as a Marine. 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. He went back. Jocko is widely known today as a lecturer, coach, podcaster, and personality about the war in Iraq. Unrelated, Chris Kyle operated on the far western side of the city in support of additional special warfare operations; he reportedly killed 84 insurgents. Naval Sea Cadet Corps unit named the "Michael A. Monsoor Battalion" based in Camp Pendleton, California. May the Lord comfort you. All morning long the overwatch position received harassment fire that had become a typical part of the day for the security team. For those of us who were there, that picture of Mike captures all of this. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "The procession went on nearly half an hour," Bush said. After further training he was assigned to Delta Platoon, SEAL Team Three. Petty Officer Second Class Michael Anthony Monsoor was born April 5, 1981 in Long Beach, Calif. Michael . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Monsoor was engaged in a firefight in Ramadi when, according to the military report, he and another SEAL pulled a team member shot in the leg to safety while bullets pinged off the ground around them., 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. When I started reading the memorials at the back of the book, I could feel how meaningful different memorials would have been to Michael. Mike and his platoon operated in a highly contested part of Ramadi city called the Ma'laab district. President Bush on Tuesday said, "The Medal of Honor is America's highest decoration for military valor. A mutually supporting SEAL/IA position also killed an enemy fighter during the morning hours. USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) will be commissioned into Navy service. He entered Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training and graduated from Class 250 on September 2, 2004, as one of the top performers in his class. This act of valor is based on Michael Monsoor's unselfish act that saved his teammates lives and saw him posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. Market data provided by Factset. I wasn't just a random person off the street. Let me set this up a little bit. Instead, I smile at the Iraqi children when we pass them by. You had a chance to talk to some of these men. The trapezoidal-shaped USS Michael Monsoor came to Naval Station Everett on Friday, where the ship . I think George will fight for his son and stand up for his memory his whole life. Click to see a video showing the SEALs' tribute to Monsoor on YouTube. The enemy could not deter Michael and his SEAL platoon. 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. Named for a Medal of Honor recipient and Navy SEAL, USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) will be commissioned Jan. 25. As for his family, please accept my deepest sympathy. Fausone: I think that's one of the lessons, right? Rest in peace, Michael Monsoor. Element snipers thwarted the enemy's initial attempt by eliminating two insurgents. The hardened enemy was bent on destruction; they fought with ruthlessness, constantly on the attack with machine guns, mortars, grenades, and IEDs. I just thought that was so incredible. His sacrifice has not gone unnoticed. He was not afraid. They are willing to go to the ends of the Earth. WHILE THE SEALS VIGILANTLY WATCHED FOR ENEMY ACTIVITY, AN INSURGENT THREW A HAND GRENADE FROM AN UNSEEN LOCATION, WHICH BOUNCED OFF PETTY OFFICER MONSOORS CHEST AND LANDED IN FRONT OF HIM. As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. Rea: It's no small thing. When we encounter Iraqi families, I treat them with respect and dignity. You got a chance to talk to his Navy buddies before he became a SEAL and importantly after he became a SEAL and served in Iraq. Two SEALs next to Monsoor were injured; another who was 10 to 15 feet from the blast was unhurt. 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 . In the early afternoon, enemy fighters attacked his position with automatic weapons fire from a moving vehicle. Michael died thirty minutes later, having made the ultimate sacrifice. But George got to talk to Michael and tell him, "Hey, don't be a hero" and Michael responded, "I have no regrets." Sally Monsoor, mother of Michael Monsoor and the ship's sponsor, is escorted on stage during the commissioning ceremony for the guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) on Jan. 26 . Delta Platoon was sent to . You have to ask yourself what makes a man do this. I think Michael probably got some of his good leadership principles from following along Lieutenant Commander Willink. SAN DIEGO - Zumwalt-class destroyer USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) held a change of command. On September 29, 2006, Michael Monsoor and three SEAL snipers watched vigilantly for enemy activity from a rooftop post in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. These men who are in the field with the Warriors give great counsel, and great solace. The reason I learned a little bit about it is my husband is an active-duty SEAL. The slaps were reportedly heard across the cemetery. Michael enlisted in the U.S. Navy March 21, 2001, and attended Basic Training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. Michael Monsoor is the second Zumwalt-class destroyer to enter the fleet. In fact, he would continue to agree to do more. 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. It was communion, it was Eucharist, it was confession. I had no idea. Ramadi had been a violent and intense area for a very strong and aggressive insurgency for some time. Forever the May Queen . It said who Michael Monsoor was, a little bit about him - just a titch - and something went off in my being, and it was like you've got to tell this boy's story. Although only he could have escaped the blast, Petty Officer Monsoor chose instead to protect his teammates. On September 29, 2006, Ramadi, Iraq was considered the most dangerous city on planet earth for American servicemen.

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