I try to honor his life and death by remembering his example and trying to emulate it because even when he was faced with some of the least September 22, 2018 | Arlington, WA | Military. It was this cool relationship, almost this Brotherhood camaraderie too, between this Navy chaplain priest and Michael. EVERETT One of the Navy's newest destroyers paid a visit to Puget Sound this weekend. We worked hand-in-hand and one by one with his teammates. Once he and his men established a sniper overwatch position, he deftly transitioned to his role as a SEAL communicator calling in tank support and transmitting enemy situation reports to the 1-506 PIR Commander. 'MI5 exists to stop atrocities. April 5, 1981 - Sept. 29, 2006. He's heading into his 20th year of service this summer. His funeral took place in October 12, 2006 at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.Other Navy SEALs lined the procession and slapped the trident devices from their uniforms to affix them onto the casket. 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. I've met him and interviewed him and now I get it. Monsoor was awarded the Silver Star for this action,[5][8] and was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq. 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 . [1] He enlisted in the United States Navy in 2001 and graduated from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training BUD/S class 250 in 2004. In the picture, his brother SEALs are nearbybut Mikey is out front. "No Greater Love" - Michael Monsoor - The American TFP Over the next five months, Monsoor and his platoon frequently engaged in combat with insurgent forces. Market data provided by Factset. [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. Although only . He was 25 years old. 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). After further training he was assigned to Delta Platoon, SEAL Team Three. Michael the Archangel by Guido Reni, Santa Maria della Concezione, Rome, 1636. Act of Valor and the Navy SEALs that Inspired the Movie's Realism "He never took his eye off the grenade, his only movement was down toward it," said a 28-year-old lieutenant who sustained shrapnel wounds to both legs that day. Two other SEALs next to him at the time were injured by the explosion but survived. Monsoor and the two injured were evacuated to the combat outpost battalion aid station where Monsoor died approximately 30 minutes after the incident from injuries sustained by the grenade blast., Also due to Monsoors selfless actions, the fourth man of the SEAL squad who was 10-15 feet from the blast, was unhurt. The grenade exploded seconds later and Monsoor's body absorbed most of the force of the blast. 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. Copyright 2023 Navy SEALs. It represents the three aspects of SEAL special operations, sea, air, and land. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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? Multiple times that we shared in the book. Michael was the closest one where he could have jumped away from it, but the other three could not have. Two SEALs next to Monsoor were injured . "He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs'' lives, and we owe him." 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. The Navy's newest destroyer, the Michael Monsoor, is as much an I mean this really is a story about Brotherhood and father/son. Twenty Gold Star families and four Medal of Honor recipients witnessed the second Zumwalt-class destroyer enter the fleet. Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, 25, Garden Grove; Navy SEAL Fausone: Go ahead and set us up for what happened on September 29, 2006 when Michael and three other snipers were there. ELEMENT SNIPERS THWARTED THE ENEMYS INITIAL ATTEMPT BY ELIMINATING TWO INSURGENTS. Most notably, the Army Infantry, Navy SEAL and Iraqi Army combined force helped to pacify the most violent city in Al Anbar province setting conditions for the Sunni Awakening. It's been a very colorful and challenging life to live, but we're so grateful for our military men and women that serve us. 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. He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. Perry, Tony, "Destroyer To Bear O.C. And from a mother's perspective, it's heartbreaking. Ramadi had been a violent and intense area for a very strong . 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. The first, USS Zumwalt, is named after Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr., chief of naval operations from 1970 to 1974. "The procession went on nearly half an hour," Bush said. I thought that was just so powerful. [20], As part of modernization, Garden Grove High School, where Michael Monsoor attended, dedicated the newly built stadium to him, naming it "Michael Monsoor Memorial Stadium". While vigilantly watching for enemy activity, an enemy fighter hurled a hand grenade onto the roof from an unseen location. Can you talk to us a little bit about learning that part of the story, which I suspect his parents knew nothing about when he was over in Iraq? A Navy SEAL sacrificed his life to save his comrades by throwing himself on top of a grenade Iraqi insurgents tossed into their sniper hideout, fellow members of the elite force said. America's Newest Stealth Destroyer Has The Greatest - The Drive The Early Years. Petty Officer Monsoor's actions could not have been more selfless or clearly intentional. Those chaplains of whatever denomination are doing great work with our men and I was really interested to read that Michael Monsoor, this Medal of Honor recipient, had that kind of relationship with that kind of chaplain when he was in Iraq. His life and unfortunate death are inspiring. He never gave up. 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. Bullet holes cover the rubbled buildings. Michael A. Monsoor and Operation Kentucky Jumper [21][22][23], Michael Monsoor is mentioned in the book of Rorke Denver "Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior".[24]. But he didn't give up, he quit but he didn't give up. [5], During an engagement on May 9, 2006, Monsoor ran into a street while under continuous insurgent gunfire to rescue an injured comrade. The Moving Funeral of Petty Officer Mike Monsoor-Truth! [12][13], For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as Platoon Machine Gunner in Sea, Air, Land Team THREE (SEAL-3), Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, Task Unit Ramadi, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 9 May 2006. He wanted him, and to make sure anyone else who wanted to would get home, so he stayed. Michael A. Monsoor | Military Wiki | Fandom 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. Again, a great story about a terrific young man who made the ultimate sacrifice for his mates - a selfless act. He also helped load his wounded teammate into a High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle for evacuation, then returned to combat. Faced with the choice to save his comrades or save himself, Monsoor threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the impact. Graeme Brathwaite on LinkedIn: Clyde B. Jones Funeral Home and Versus One minute of prayer each night-Grass Roots Effort! George eventually said okay, let's do it. And because of that, his men were able to get to safety. Bless their hearts. MICHAEL A. MONSOOR OBITUARY - Legacy.com Commander, Navy Installations Command | 716 Sicard Street SE Suite 1000 | Washington DC, 20374-5140 Official U.S. Navy Website Naval Sea Cadet Corps unit named the "Michael A. Monsoor Battalion" based in Camp Pendleton, California. Michael A. Monsoor, A True Hero - Flopping Aces Monsoor died about 30 minutes later from wounds caused by the grenade explosion. He was at SEAL Team 3 when they commissioned this absolutely breathtaking missile-guided destroyer - they call it a super stealth missile-guided destroyer - that was named after Michael Monsoor. 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. Let's let certain things be, right? There was no other option for him. It wasn't like someone said something, I meant these really happened. Mountain Warfare Training Camp Michael Monsoor. Home Haller Motorworx & Farm Equipment Magazine, AR 479 969-6464. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.