You have to ask yourself what makes a man do this. His funeral in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego . As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. Immediately, Petty Officer Monsoor, with complete disregard for his own safety, exposed himself to heavy enemy fire in order to provide suppressive fire and fight his way to the wounded SEAL's position. Michael Monsoor is the second Zumwalt-class destroyer to enter the fleet. Michael the Archangel by Guido Reni, Santa Maria della Concezione, Rome, 1636. Delta Platoon was sent to . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Rose Rea: Yes, it is a powerful one. Monsoor died approximately 30 minutes later from wounds sustained from the blast. Forever the May Queen . He is survived by his mother Sally, his father George, his sister Sara, and his two brothers James and Joseph. by Norman Fulkerson May 22, 2008. ELEMENT SNIPERS THWARTED THE ENEMY'S INITIAL ATTEMPT BY ELIMINATING TWO INSURGENTS. You talk in the book about how he got into sports - hockey and football - and pushed himself to overcome this medical challenge. May the Lord continue to comfort you. In the early afternoon, enemy fighters attacked his position with automatic weapons fire from a moving vehicle. And then it just goes on from there, with the building of this ship. He continued to provide effective suppressive fire while simultaneously dragging the wounded SEAL to safety. This is what I said: Ladies and gentlemen. And his story offers some perspective on the long war in Iraq and the chaos there today. I miss my mother, my father, my sister, and my brothers. But we are strong. 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. We've talked a little bit about the reaction to this sacrifice, but does the family feel that the sacrifice going forward in a ripple effect, will that continue to go forward? Petty Officer Second Class Michael Anthony Monsoor was born April 5, 1981 in Long Beach, Calif. Michael grew up in Garden Grove, Calif., as the third of four children of George and Sally Monsoor. MASTER-AT-ARMS SECOND CLASS (SEA, AIR AND LAND) MICHAEL A. MONSOOR, MA2 MICHAEL A. MONSOOR, USN with sailors on his tour. or redistributed. This was a fitting send-off for a warrior hero. In the early morning, insurgents prepared to execute a coordinated attack by reconnoitering the area around the element's position. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. People want to know everything all the time. A 28-year-old Lieutenant, who sustained shrapnel wounds to both legs that day, said the following in crediting Monsoor with saving his life: He never took his eye off the grenade his only movement was down toward it. Two other SEALs next to him at the time were injured by the explosion but survived. It was such an honor and they felt safe with me because I wasn't just a reporter. Collectively it weighed more than 100 pounds. 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. As suspected, his parents wouldn't have known about it but probably gave them great comfort once they learned. Michael Anthony Monsoor was born on 5 April 1981 in Long Beach, CA, the third of four children born to George and Sally Monsoor. Rose, thanks for bringing this story to life and adding it to the library of literature on Medal of Honor recipients. Michael attended Dr. Walter C. Ralston Intermediate School and Garden Grove High School where he played tight end on the Argonaut football team and graduated in 1999. Element snipers thwarted the enemy's initial attempt by eliminating two insurgents. Fausone: "Defend Us in Battle" is on the Harper Horizon imprint. Legal Statement. As someone that had the pleasure of knowing Mikey as a friend, and had the honor of serving with him on the battlefield, this photograph tells me a story. The grenade hit Monsoor in the chest before falling to the ground. 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. 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. They were providing overwatch security while joint and combined forces were conducting missions in the area. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter Burghart/Released). [6], On September 29, 2006, Monsoor's platoon engaged four insurgents in a firefight in Ramadi, killing one and injuring another. Though he carried himself in a calm and composed fashion, he constantly led the charge to bring the fight to the enemy. 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 . One of them belongs to Michael Monsoor. Monsoor . Fausone:Yes and it's a huge honor. The parents of Master-At-Arms 2nd Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor accepted the nation's highest military honor on behalf of their son during a White House ceremony April 8, 2008. 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. I enlisted because of people like him, because of people who are willing to fight and die for their fellow man. Taking Offense Religion, Art, and Visual Culture in Plural Configurations You may print and distribute in quantity for all non-profit, educational purposes. As a communicator and machine-gunner on patrols, Monsoor carried 100 pounds (45kg) of gear in temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees. He attended Dr. Walter C. Ralston Intermediate School and Garden Grove High School in Garden Grove, California and played tight-end on the school's football team, graduating in 1999. I am far away from home. Navy Narrative: "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. An insurgent closed in and threw a fragmentation grenade into the overwatch position. His valorous conduct, exemplary leadership, and extraordinary self-sacrifice for his fellow service members have earned him the highest respect and gratitude of his fellow SEALs, the Navy, and our nation. Instead, Monsoor chose to protect his comrades by the sacrifice of his own life. 1927-2021. He lived for 30 minutes longer, they were providing aid as fast as they could. I want to hold my nephews and nieces again. He will inspire the crew, just as he inspired his teammates. Shortly thereafter, an enemy fighter shot a rocket-propelled grenade at his building. He ran out into the street with another SEAL, shot cover fire and dragged his comrade to safety while enemy bullets kicked up the concrete at their feet. He was 25 years old. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. EVERETT One of the Navy's newest destroyers paid a visit to Puget Sound this weekend. During the battle, a grenade bounced off Monsoors chest and landed on the roof. And then, as you know, at the end of the book who says that powerful prayer at the end, who's able to be there and the huge commissioning of bringing his ship to life but Father Paul Halladay. Ramadi had been a violent and intense area for a very strong and aggressive insurgency for some time. These men who are in the field with the Warriors give great counsel, and great solace. All rights reserved. On that day, Monsoor was part of a sniper overwatch security position with three other SEALs and eight Iraqi Army (IA) soldiers. So many guys have named their kids after him because they just loved him so much. Talk a little bit about the role and responsibility that goes with being that automatic weapon operator. Like most fighting ships, its namesake will be woven into . 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. The grenade detonated as he came down on top of it, mortally wounding him. 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. Michael Monsoor is the second Zumwalt-class destroyer to enter the fleet. During combat patrols he walked behind the platoon point man with his Mk 48 machinegun so that he could protect his platoon from a frontal enemy attack. 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 trapezoidal-shaped USS Michael Monsoor came to Naval Station Everett on Friday, where the ship . This story is so incredible so it really gives people a perspective and a glimpse into who was this boy that made this split-second decision that changed lives forever. 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. While vigilantly watching for enemy activity, an enemy fighter hurled a hand grenade onto the roof from an unseen location. USS Michael Monsoor is the second of three Zumwalt-class destroyers ordered by the Navy. Exploit isn't the right word - that happens right? Michael Monsoor, a Navy Seal, sacrificed his life for his buddies on Sept 29th. Brave men died or were wounded every day. Instead, knowing what the outcome would be, he fell on the grenade to save the others from harm. I thought that was just so powerful. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He is survived by his parents, an older sister and two brothers. He chose them.. USSMichael Monsoor (DDG-1001), the second ship in the Zumwalt class of guided missile destroyers, was also named in his honor. Michael, being the man that he was, was aware of everything going on around him. President Bush presents the Medal of Honor to Sally and George Monsoor, parents of Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, during an East Room ceremony on Tuesday. They weren't Navy SEALs. Instead, I smile at the Iraqi children when we pass them by. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Immediately, Monsoor yelled "Grenade!" [3][5], Monsoor was described as a "quiet professional" and a "fun-loving guy" by those who knew him. There was only one access point for entry or exit and Monsoor was the only one who could have saved himself from harm. Michael obviously knew what was going down, as he was operating on this nightly basis. So my husband brings this book home and there's one paragraph - that's all it was - one paragraph. Give us a little bit about how George is thinking about this, how the rest of the family is thinking about this? "And when it was all over, the simple wooden coffin had become a gold-plated memorial to a hero who will never be forgotten.. Monsoor was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, which was presented by President George W. Bush to Monsoor's parents on April 8, 2008. 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. Just let them have their brother. After further training he was assigned to Delta Platoon, SEAL Team Three. The enemy could not deter Michael and his SEAL platoon. 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. Two SEALs next to Monsoor were injured . The grenade hit Monsoor in the chest and fell onto the floor. [2][4] When he was a child, Monsoor was afflicted with asthma but strengthened his lungs by racing his siblings in the family's swimming pool. I wasn't just a random person off the street. It was this cool relationship, almost this Brotherhood camaraderie too, between this Navy chaplain priest and Michael. On 15 operations, he carried a rucksack full of communications equipment in addition to his machinegun and full ammunition load-out. The vessel was adrift in the Gulf of Aden for three days due to an engine. It wasn't like someone said something, I meant these really happened. [17], In October 2008, United States Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter announced that the second ship in the Zumwalt class of destroyers would be named USSMichael Monsoor(DDG-1001) in honor of Petty Officer Monsoor. Descripcin. A mutually supporting SEAL/IA position also killed an enemy fighter during the morning hours. Like many kids, he wanted to test himself and be the best he could in service and made his way through BUD/S and became a Navy SEAL in March 2005. As shown at the end of the tribute video linked below, during Monsoor's funeral service, as the casket was taken from the hearse to the gravesite, fellow SEALs . And just as Mikey Monsoor did, the USS Michael Monsoor will go forward, willingly into harms wayand will stand tall without hesitation or regrets and face down evil and malevolence, saying boldly to the world: I WILL DEFEND. I think Michael probably got some of his good leadership principles from following along Lieutenant Commander Willink. Monsoor was awarded the Silver Star for this action,[5][8] and was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq. Michael inspired and looked out for his friends his whole life. Michael Monsoor was part of a dedicated team fighting the insurgency in Iraq, supporting the U.S. in its efforts to bring peace and stability to that country. MASTER AT ARMS SECOND CLASS, SEA, AIR and LAND Strengthening him to do his job was the sacraments - what Catholics use as a Sacrament. It's so painful, but George knew his son was set to do this, was set to go to this war-torn area and he wasn't afraid. He bore the weight without a single complaint, even in the midst of the 130 degree Western Iraqi summer. There were so many situations of people who are so moved by his act of charity that they too want to make an act of charity. Imperial Beach Outlying Landing Field. [18], A SEAL training facilitylocated about 50 miles (80km) east of San Diegowas renamed Mountain Warfare Training Camp Michael Monsoor. He was operating with I think eight of them total left out of a normal size of 15 to 20. But we fight onfor the men to our left and rightwe fight on. He was the ultimate teammate. So it just marries together so many wonderful stories and memories. 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. The overwatch couldnt tell where the RPG came from and didnt return fire.A couple of hours later, an insurgency fighter closed on the overwatch position and threw a fragment grenade into the overwatch position which hit Monsoor in the chest before falling in front of him. He was Catholic and he found this incredible priest. One of the lessons here that I think folks learned, and it's kind of interesting, is Michael had asthma as a kid and had to overcome all the medical challenges that go through childhood when you can't breathe when you have an asthma problem. Rose, how did you get involved in helping write and shape this book? Rea: It did after and he was able to say that to them when they met him after he had passed away. Market data provided by Factset. Thank-you for raising such a great son. George eventually said okay, let's do it. Because there is nothing more important to me than my family. The U.S. Navy's newest vessel, a guided-missile destroyer named the USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001), commissioned on January 27, 2019. The symbolic display moved many, included Bush, who during his speech in April's Medal of Honor ceremony spoke about the incident. Mike was one of the bravest men on the battlefield, never allowing the enemy to discourage him. He's heading into his 20th year of service this summer. Click to see a video showing the SEALs' tribute to Monsoor on YouTube. 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. His parents had no idea that he was operating on a nightly basis and the type of danger that he was in. You record a conversation that George told you he had with Michael. All Rights Reserved. SAN DIEGO - Zumwalt-class destroyer USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) held a change of command. Ismaili community leaders continued to report concerns about what they called the exclusion of Ismailis from other positions of political authority. Rea: Yeah. Petty Officer Monsoor entered Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, Calif., and subsequently graduated with Class 250 on Sept. 2, 2004 as one of the top performers in his class. In that split second, which is all that he had, he jumped on top of it and shielded the blast with his own body. Michael Monsoor is the second Zumwalt-class destroyer to enter the fleet. On 11 different operations, Petty Officer Monsoor exposed himself to heavy enemy fire while shielding his teammates with suppressive fire. A brotherhood bound by sweat and blood and tears. Dunbar, Monsoor, SEALS, Monsoor funeral. During the service, as Monsoor's coffin was taken from the hearse to the gravesite, Navy SEALs lined up in two columns. Monsoors body shielded the others from the brunt of the fragmentation blast and two other SEALs were only wounded by the remaining blast., One of the key aspects of this incident was the way the overwatch position was structured. Rea: I don't think we'll ever understand, Jim. Market data provided by Factset. It's not always a religious thing, sometimes it's just that you have somebody safe you can express your fears with. This voice says to me: I am patrolling through the streets of Ramadi. On September 29, 2006, Michael Monsoor and three SEAL snipers watched vigilantly for enemy activity from a rooftop post in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. She co-wrote a book with George Monsoor. During the first five months of deployment, that platoon from Team 3 was assigned to Camp Corregidor on the east side of Ramadi, led by then-Lieutenant Seth Stone, who also earned the Silver Star for his own actions on the same September 29, 2006 operation. One minute of prayer each night-Grass Roots Effort! 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 tribute to their fallen comrade. He also helped load his wounded teammate into a High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle for evacuation, then returned to combat. WHAT RUDDERLESS MILLENNIALS COULD LEARN FROM NAVY SEAL MICHAEL MONSOOR -- WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR OTHERS. It really is, because all you want for your child is a long life, happiness, is comfort. 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. ALTHOUGH ONLY HE COULD HAVE ESCAPED THE BLAST, PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR CHOSE INSTEAD TO PROTECT HIS 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. [21][22][23], Michael Monsoor is mentioned in the book of Rorke Denver "Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior".[24]. Michael Monsoor joined the United States Navy in about March of 2001. He was gifted at everything he did, hard-working, funny, and selfless. Zumwalt-class destroyer USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) moored at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPACT) 2022. And because of that, his men were able to get to safety. - Source A relationship through how much they loved each other and then this brotherly love which ultimately grows and grows and then at the end, but after you saw how much he cared about his fellow squadmates didn't it almost make sense at the end as devastating as it was. He was 25-year-old Michael Monsoor. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. By his extraordinary guidance, zealous initiative, and total dedication to duty, Petty Officer Monsoor reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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