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Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Families accept posthumous Medals of Honor for two Navy SEALs at SOCom event
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
TAMPA ? Some of the nation's toughest commando fighters gathered at MacDill Air Force Base on Monday to remember two men who stand out even among their elite ranks.
U.S. Special Operations Command unveiled the names of Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor and Lt. Michael Murphy, on a monument to special ops troops who died in combat or training.
Both Navy SEALs, Monsoor and Murphy each received a posthumous Medal of Honor for actions in battles in Iraq and Afghanistan. They were recognized on a wall of the monument reserved for those receiving this highest of military honors.
They joined 38 other names on that wall and 626 overall who have died in American conflicts.
During an hour-long ceremony, members of SOCom's para-commando team parachuted near the memorial with American flags flown over various SOCom commands.
These flags were presented to Monsoor and Murphy's families, who placed two wreaths next to the wall of honor.
"These men excelled at everything they did," said Adm. Eric Olson, the SOCom commander. "In the end, each willingly and knowingly sacrificed their lives to save others."
Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor was killed in Ramadi, Iraq.
In September 2006, Monsoor, 25, of Garden Grove, Calif., was positioned between two American snipers on a roof inside the Iraqi city of Ramadi watching for insurgent fighters.
Without warning, a grenade was hurled into the position of the three SEALs, bouncing off Monsoor's chest.
He yelled, "Grenade!"
The machine-gunner jumped on the grenade and smothered it with his body. He did so even though he was the only one of the three in a position to escape the blast.
Monsoor died 30 minutes after the grenade exploded.
Lt. Michael P. Murphy was killed in battle in the mountains of Afghanistan.
In June 2005, Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y., was part of a four-man SEAL team tracking a terrorist leader in the mountains of Afghanistan. Locals saw them and betrayed their position to the Taliban.
Soon, the four SEALs ? SEAL stands for sea, air and land ? were surrounded by up to 50 enemy fighters and a fierce battle opened. The SEALs tried to retreat down the mountain.
Murphy couldn't call for reinforcements with a satellite radio because of the rocky terrain.
So he made his way to an open and clear patch of earth in view of Taliban fighters. It was the only way to get through to reinforcements on his radio.
He was shot in the back and stomach but stayed on the radio with reinforcements.
It was a dark day for naval special warfare troops. An MH-47 Chinook helicopter with 16 men onboard, including eight SEALs, crashed as it responded to Murphy's call. All 16 from the helicopter and two with Murphy died that day.
Murphy's father, Daniel Murphy, a Vietnam veteran, touched the wall and silently remembered his son.
He said his son was known as "the Protector" by his family as he grew up for his habit of trying to help anyone in need.
"What's significant to us," said Murphy, "was that Michael was true to himself right until the end."
Families accept posthumous Medals of Honor for two Navy SEALs at SOCom event - St. Petersburg Times
More on Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor:
SECNAV Names New Zumwalt-Class Destroyer USS Michael Monsoor
Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter announced last night at a Navy SEAL Warrior Fund Benefit Gala at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, the name of the newest Zumwalt-class Destroyer will be USS Michael Monsoor. Designated as DDG- 1001, the name honors Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on Sept. 29, 2006.
Winter discussed the qualities, values, and dedication to duty that Navy SEAL?s exemplify, including the extraordinary acts of Michael Monsoor.
?Tonight I would like to single out one of those heroes from the community of Navy SEAL?s,? Winter said. ?Those who served with Michael Monsoor will remember him always as a consummate professional who faced terrorist enemies with aplomb and stoicism.?
?The full extent of Michael?s courage, gallantry, and self-less heroism were revealed on the 29th of September, in Ramadi. When his team was surprised by an enemy grenade, Michael could have escaped and saved himself,? Winter said. ?But he chose a different path, a path of honor that embodies the way of a Navy SEAL. For having chosen that path, Petty Officer Michael Monsoor joined the ranks of those who have earned our nation?s highest distinction, the Medal of Honor.?
Entire article: DefenseLink News Release: SECNAV Names New Zumwalt-Class Destroyer USS Michael Monsoor
Mike Monsoor, a Navy EODTechnician, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for jumping on a grenade in Iraq, giving his life to save his fellow Seals. During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego, as his coffin was being moved from the hearse to the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEAL's were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route forming a column of two's, with the coffin moving up the center. As Mike's coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin. 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.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
TAMPA ? Some of the nation's toughest commando fighters gathered at MacDill Air Force Base on Monday to remember two men who stand out even among their elite ranks.
U.S. Special Operations Command unveiled the names of Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor and Lt. Michael Murphy, on a monument to special ops troops who died in combat or training.
Both Navy SEALs, Monsoor and Murphy each received a posthumous Medal of Honor for actions in battles in Iraq and Afghanistan. They were recognized on a wall of the monument reserved for those receiving this highest of military honors.
They joined 38 other names on that wall and 626 overall who have died in American conflicts.
During an hour-long ceremony, members of SOCom's para-commando team parachuted near the memorial with American flags flown over various SOCom commands.
These flags were presented to Monsoor and Murphy's families, who placed two wreaths next to the wall of honor.
"These men excelled at everything they did," said Adm. Eric Olson, the SOCom commander. "In the end, each willingly and knowingly sacrificed their lives to save others."
Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor was killed in Ramadi, Iraq.
In September 2006, Monsoor, 25, of Garden Grove, Calif., was positioned between two American snipers on a roof inside the Iraqi city of Ramadi watching for insurgent fighters.
Without warning, a grenade was hurled into the position of the three SEALs, bouncing off Monsoor's chest.
He yelled, "Grenade!"
The machine-gunner jumped on the grenade and smothered it with his body. He did so even though he was the only one of the three in a position to escape the blast.
Monsoor died 30 minutes after the grenade exploded.
Lt. Michael P. Murphy was killed in battle in the mountains of Afghanistan.
In June 2005, Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y., was part of a four-man SEAL team tracking a terrorist leader in the mountains of Afghanistan. Locals saw them and betrayed their position to the Taliban.
Soon, the four SEALs ? SEAL stands for sea, air and land ? were surrounded by up to 50 enemy fighters and a fierce battle opened. The SEALs tried to retreat down the mountain.
Murphy couldn't call for reinforcements with a satellite radio because of the rocky terrain.
So he made his way to an open and clear patch of earth in view of Taliban fighters. It was the only way to get through to reinforcements on his radio.
He was shot in the back and stomach but stayed on the radio with reinforcements.
It was a dark day for naval special warfare troops. An MH-47 Chinook helicopter with 16 men onboard, including eight SEALs, crashed as it responded to Murphy's call. All 16 from the helicopter and two with Murphy died that day.
Murphy's father, Daniel Murphy, a Vietnam veteran, touched the wall and silently remembered his son.
He said his son was known as "the Protector" by his family as he grew up for his habit of trying to help anyone in need.
"What's significant to us," said Murphy, "was that Michael was true to himself right until the end."
Families accept posthumous Medals of Honor for two Navy SEALs at SOCom event - St. Petersburg Times
More on Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor:
SECNAV Names New Zumwalt-Class Destroyer USS Michael Monsoor
Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter announced last night at a Navy SEAL Warrior Fund Benefit Gala at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, the name of the newest Zumwalt-class Destroyer will be USS Michael Monsoor. Designated as DDG- 1001, the name honors Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on Sept. 29, 2006.
Winter discussed the qualities, values, and dedication to duty that Navy SEAL?s exemplify, including the extraordinary acts of Michael Monsoor.
?Tonight I would like to single out one of those heroes from the community of Navy SEAL?s,? Winter said. ?Those who served with Michael Monsoor will remember him always as a consummate professional who faced terrorist enemies with aplomb and stoicism.?
?The full extent of Michael?s courage, gallantry, and self-less heroism were revealed on the 29th of September, in Ramadi. When his team was surprised by an enemy grenade, Michael could have escaped and saved himself,? Winter said. ?But he chose a different path, a path of honor that embodies the way of a Navy SEAL. For having chosen that path, Petty Officer Michael Monsoor joined the ranks of those who have earned our nation?s highest distinction, the Medal of Honor.?
Entire article: DefenseLink News Release: SECNAV Names New Zumwalt-Class Destroyer USS Michael Monsoor
Mike Monsoor, a Navy EODTechnician, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for jumping on a grenade in Iraq, giving his life to save his fellow Seals. During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego, as his coffin was being moved from the hearse to the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEAL's were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route forming a column of two's, with the coffin moving up the center. As Mike's coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin. 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.
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