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Bush Honors Navy Hero at White House

By JENNIFER LOVEN,
AP
Posted: 2008-04-09 06:44:14
Filed Under: Nation News
WASHINGTON (April 8) - Navy SEAL Michael A. Monsoor had fast thinking to do when a live grenade came out of nowhere to bounce off his chest: Take the clear path to safety that he had but his comrades didn't, try to toss it safely away, or throw himself on top of it.

With barely an instant's hesitation on that Iraqi rooftop, Monsoor took the last course, sacrificing his life to save the men around him. For that, President Bush on Tuesday awarded him the Medal of Honor.

In an East Room ceremony, Bush presented the nation's highest military honor to Monsoor's still-grieving parents, Sally and George Monsoor. About 250 guests, including his sister and two brothers, fellow SEALS, other Medal winners, many friends and GOP Sen. John McCain and other members of Congress, looked on quietly.

"The Medal of Honor is awarded for an act of such courage that no one could rightly be expected to undertake it," Bush said. "Yet those who knew Michael Monsoor were not surprised when he did."

Bush has awarded the medals to 10 people during his presidency. Monsoor is only the third from the Iraq war, and Bush's lip trembled and tears streamed down his cheeks as the official citation was read with the details of his bravery.

The emotional proceedings at the White House came as the top U.S. general and diplomat in Iraq opened two days of testimony across town on Capitol Hill on the status of the war, which has killed more than 4,020 U.S. military personnel.

Gen. David Petraeus said security in Iraq is still too fragile to allow announcements of troop levels going below 140,000 before September. Bush is giving a speech on Thursday to announce whether he accepts Petraeus' recommendation to suspend troop withdrawals for 45 days after the current round completes in July. He is expected to do so.

In brief remarks, Bush told the story of Monsoor's service-oriented upbringing and determined youth.

Monsoor became a Navy SEAL, the military's most elite fighting force, in 2004.

"His teammates liked to laugh about the way his shiny Corvette would leave everybody in the dust," Bush said. "But deep down, they always knew Mike would never leave anybody behind when it counted."

By spring 2006, Monsoor was deployed to Ramadi in Iraq's dangerous, then-al-Qaida dominated Anbar Province, as an automatic weapons gunner and communications operator — a double assignment that often landed him more than 100 pounds of gear to carry in the hot desert.

In May, Monsoor ran through heavy enemy fire to pull a wounded SEAL to safety. He earned a Silver Star, the third-highest award for combat valor, for that action.

It was only four months later, on Sept. 29, 2006, that Monsoor and his two American teammates, plus members of the Iraqi Army, were on a rooftop in a Ramadi residential area known as a stronghold for the Sunni insurgency. They were providing early warning and sniper cover for a mission aimed at trying to clear the neighborhood.

After a long day of back-and-forth engagement and evidence that the enemy was closing them off, Monsoor and the two other SEALS moved to a confined outcropping of the roof for a better lookout position. An unseen insurgent lobbed a grenade, which hit Monsoor in the chest and landed on the floor in front of him. He yelled a warning, but quickly saw that his fellow SEALS, not positioned near the exit like he was, wouldn't be able to get clear in time. Monsoor fell onto the grenade just as it exploded, absorbing the blast with his body and dying from the injuries about 30 minutes later. Others suffered shrapnel wounds, but no one else was killed.

The Garden Grove, Calif., native, was only 25 years old.

"Mr. and Mrs. Monsoor: America owes you a debt that can never be repaid," Bush said. "This nation will always cherish the memory of your son."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-04-08 17:13:11
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6543 comments

conexxions3 04:25:18 PM May 06 2008

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What words can you say - an Incredible young man!

pricebigred 10:16:18 PM Apr 13 2008

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i like to see that everyones caps lock is stuck in the "on" position hehe

patriotpix 05:00:16 PM Apr 13 2008

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GOD BLESS ALL OUR TROOPS AND THE HEROS THEY PROVE THEMSELVES TO BE BY BELEIVING IN SOMETHING BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES. I SALUTE THEM ALL AND APPRECIATE THEIR SACRIFICE. GOD BLESS 'EM!!

giuliann2 08:44:19 AM Apr 11 2008

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poltyndall 04:41:21 PM Apr 10 2008

Report This! giuliann2 02:44:19 PM Apr 10 2008 Report This! srry cofin.. my darn keyboard..
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>============================================================wow polty, arent you ice..
same lies. accusations and badmouthin!
when cornered.. the best you ca do!
have nothing to say... i guess you still have te militry mentallity... DO NOT ask questions.. JUST FOLLOW Orders!
.. dont use your GOD given capability to THINK on your Own.. others will do it for you!
Michael DIED because BUSH LIED!
clear enough for you??
now.. go and follow orders... you are a machine.. not a human being!
btw.. I am a Mother,, and Grandmother.. and I dont want my child or grandchildren to fight in wars based on LIES!

WE JUST REPORTED BACK IN AND I SEE YOUR STILL MOUTHING ON A SUBJECT YOU ARE IGNORANT. IT IS VERY APPERENT YOU ARE, NOR EVER HAVE BEEN MILTARY SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST SHUT UP? F

jbuickspecial66 08:24:34 PM Apr 10 2008

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dread scott whata case

cofins4terorists 06:12:13 PM Apr 10 2008

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jbuickspecial66..............I gave up reading your shouting posts after what I think was the second sentence....you use no puncuation and you type in all caps. Too difficult to read.
Also, YOU ARE on the WRONG blog!

poltyndall 04:41:21 PM Apr 10 2008

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giuliann2 02:44:19 PM Apr 10 2008 Report This! srry cofin.. my darn keyboard..
============================================================
WE JUST REPORTED BACK IN AND I SEE YOUR STILL MOUTHING ON A SUBJECT YOU ARE IGNORANT. IT IS VERY APPERENT YOU ARE, NOR EVER HAVE BEEN MILTARY SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST SHUT UP? FOR GOD'S SAKE YOUR LIKE THE EVERYREADY BATTERY, YOU GO ON AND ON. GET A FRIGGIN LIFE AND A JOB.
NO NO ONE APPOINTED YOU A SPOKEMAN FOR THE MILITARY OR THE GOVERNMENT. TAKE YOUR DRUGS AND JUST STOP. BY GOD YOUR SICKNING.
YOU HAVE OR NEVER HAD THE INFORMATION THE COMMADER IN CHIEF, THE SENATE, 26 OTHER NATIONS INCLUDING THE UN BUT YOUR AN EXPERT.
WE COMREHEND LEFIST EXPERTS LIKE YOU ARE A DANGER.
COULD YOU AND DORKS LIKE YOU HONOR A BRAVE AMERICAN HERO. GUESS NOT, YOUR TO INTO YOUR SELF. 30

jbuickspecial66 04:27:37 PM Apr 10 2008

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HEY NANCE PEPSI CO. YOU LIKE GASS UP LIKE IT IS AND STILL WHAY TO
TAX US MIDDLE CLASS AND POOR PEOPLE TO DEATH YOU ALL HAVE PLENTY OF PRACTICE KILLING PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE NOW WE ARE GOING TO BE FIGHTING FOR GASS MONEY THANK DO NOTHING DEMOCRATS ALL YOU ALL DO IS CRY AND SAY WE WON IN 2000 WELL AFTER YOU DEMOCRATS GOT EVEN WITH THE HIT ON OUR WORLD TRADE CENTER THEY PLANED CAN YOU SAY JFK, MLK, RFK, VINCE FOSTER DEAD FROM THEIR OWN PARTY AND SANDYBERGER STEALING OUR HISTORY FROM THE
NATIONAL ARCHIVES GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT DEMOCRATS DID SO MUCH TO HIDE AND DESTROY THANKS LIBS FOR DOING NOTHING THE WHOLE TIME IN OFFICE WITH OSAMA O THAT'S RIGHT YOU DEMOCRATS TIPPED HIM OFF IN TORRA BORRA

jbuickspecial66 04:13:06 PM Apr 10 2008

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X MARKS THE SPOT I SAY NUKE BARNES SAVE THE WORLD

jbuickspecial66 03:31:18 PM Apr 10 2008

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OBUDSMAN IS FOR CEO'S IN HEATH CARE AND WHEN THEY HIDE AND SWEEP
BAD SHIT LIKE THE CARE MY MOM GOT UNDER THE RUG.!! AND MAN WHAT BONUSES THEY ALL GOT.!!! AROUND DEC. 25 2007 SANTA HO MY MOM DIED AND SHE LOOKED LIKE SHE HAD BEEN BLOWN UP AND PUT BACK TOGETHER. IT WAS AND IS A NIGHT MARE JUST BECAUSE SHE WAS A LIFE LONG REPUBLICAN SHE IS DEAD PAY BACK'S COMING SOONER OR LATER NOT ONE LAWYER WILL GO UP AGAINST B.J.C. BUT THEY ALL HAVE SAID YES YOU HAVE A WRONGFUL DEATH LAW SUIT BUT NOW WE ARE ON RETAINER WITH BARNES JEWISH HOSPITAL SO YOU NEED TO FIND A NEW LAWYER THE RICH BLACK MIXED JEWS ARE PLAYING GOD WELL OBAMA JUDGEMENT DAY WILL COME FOR YOU KINGS TO JEWISH MIXED BLACKS
AIN'T NO BETTER THAN PLAIN WHITE OR MEXICAN OR ASIAN MIXES FIGHT
FOR BETTER CARE FOR ALL PEOPLE AND TROOPS HURT CARE MORE 4 ALL
NOT JUST DEMOCRATS AND THE FAKE SHOW OF CARING THEY SHOW
THEIR FAMILIES DON'T ROT TO DEATH IN HEALTHCARE WITH FLESHEATING BACTIA AND POOR CARE AS BARB DID FOR 4 MONTHS AFTER HEART SERGU

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