While moving toward extraction, the Iraqi Army and Naval Special Warfare overwatch team received effective enemy automatic weapons fire resulting in one SEAL wounded in action. Such an amazing man! WHAT RUDDERLESS MILLENNIALS COULD LEARN FROM NAVY SEAL MICHAEL MONSOOR -- WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR OTHERS. He was 25-year-old Michael Monsoor. I don't think any of us can sit back and think oh it's so easy for everyone else, but it's hard for us to see past our own difficulty sometimes. They said no to me Jim, for two years, because they're so private. What we do have preserved in the book are all those stories she shared, gems, so many she hadn't shared with the world. I miss my mother, my father, my sister, and my brothers. Michael inspired and looked out for his friends his whole life. Named for a Medal of Honor recipient and Navy SEAL, USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) will be commissioned Jan. 25. He knew some of these guys were going home early, it's called turnover. AS A MEMBER OF A COMBINED SEAL AND IRAQI ARMY SNIPER OVERWATCH ELEMENT, TASKED WITH PROVIDING EARLY WARNING AND STAND-OFF PROTECTION FROM A ROOFTOP IN AN INSURGENT HELD SECTOR OF AR RAMADI, IRAQ, PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY HIS EXCEPTIONAL BRAVERY IN THE FACE OF GRAVE DANGER. These men who are in the field with the Warriors give great counsel, and great solace. Unrelated, Chris Kyle operated on the far western side of the city in support of additional special warfare operations; he reportedly killed 84 insurgents. PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 5, 2020) Seaman Davon Ramos, from New York, looks through binoculars while standing watch on the port bridge wing aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45) during a vertical replenishment with Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194) and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Regan (CVN 76). The Moving Funeral of Petty Officer Mike Monsoor-Truth! 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. Commander, Navy Installations Command | 716 Sicard Street SE Suite 1000 | Washington DC, 20374-5140 Official U.S. Navy Website Even before I jumped into really writing the story, I had no idea that he quit BUD/S once. Rea: It's no small thing. Her prayers for her son are just a reflection of what every mother is doing when their boys are overseas, or daughters are overseas. 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. Jim Fausone:We want to welcome to Veterans Radio today, Rose Rea. You had a chance to talk to some of these men. Faith conquers all. The U.S. Navy's newest vessel, a guided-missile destroyer named the USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001), commissioned on January 27, 2019. The first, USS Zumwalt, is named after Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr., chief of naval operations from 1970 to 1974. I had no idea. 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. [6], On September 29, 2006, Monsoor's platoon engaged four insurgents in a firefight in Ramadi, killing one and injuring another. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. But we are strong. The grenade detonated as he came down on top of it, mortally wounding him. April 5, 1981 - Sept. 29, 2006. They flew him back over to do the honors. I know these grunts are not just Soldiers and Marines, but fathers and brothers and sons. 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. Your act and demonstrated honor is a high standard for all of us. For those of us who were there, that picture of Mike captures all of this. And I'm like, who is this? 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. Naval Sea Cadet Corps unit named the "Michael A. Monsoor Battalion" based in Camp Pendleton, California. She co-wrote a book with George Monsoor. "The procession went on nearly half an hour," Bush said. The SEALs fired back and stood their ground. For service as set forth in the following CITATION: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Automatic Weapons Gunner for Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 29 September 2006. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Mike was one of the bravest men on the battlefield, never allowing the enemy to discourage him. People want to know everything all the time. You see those friendships that were deep in there. [9], The display moved many attending the funeral, including President Bush, who spoke about the incident later during a speech stating: "The procession went on nearly half an hour, and when it was all over, the simple wooden coffin had become a gold-plated memorial to a hero who will never be forgotten."[9]. Rea: It was my pleasure and it's been such a joy speaking with you. Bullet holes cover the rubbled buildings. Rea: I don't think we'll ever understand, Jim. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. We all hit those challenges in life and it's so easy to ring the bell which you do to get out of the BUD/S and SEAL training. He never gave up. Monsoor was protecting other SEALs, two of whom were 15 feet away from him. Let's let certain things be, right? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The ship honors Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who . 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. He was 25 years old. Regional exposure by managing/leading projects by handling projects. Delta Platoon executed a broad spectrum of combat operations in and around Ramadi. Exactly with that weapon, he was providing cover fire. Monsoor was awarded the Silver Star for this action,[5][8] and was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq. 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. On May 9, 2006 Mike rescued a SEAL who was shot in the leg. After further training he was assigned to Delta Platoon, SEAL Team Three. 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. 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. We put in the story what he told his mom or brother - he said you'll have to drag my dead body off the beach before I quit again. Naval Auxiliary Landing Field San Clemente Island. The enemy could not deter Michael and his SEAL platoon. The sad thing is that Michael was ready to die at any time and I'm sure a lot of those guys were, Jim. Not out of any sort of reason other than just letting us be. Though well-acquainted with enemy tactics in Ar Ramadi, and keenly aware that the enemy would continue to attack, the SEALs remained on the battlefield in order to carry out the mission of guarding the western flank of the main effort. The grenade hit Monsoor in the chest and fell onto the floor. 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. . They patrolled bravely through the city streets engaging in firefights while on other occasions, they ambushed insurgent mortar teams near the banks of the Euphrates River. 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. 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. They really didn't - it was definitely something. STEVE INSKEEP, host: The White House is about to bestow the highest military award on a Navy SEAL from Southern California. Michael obviously knew what was going down, as he was operating on this nightly basis. So I thought it was a nice touch to add that all in. Michael Monsoor, a Navy Seal, sacrificed his life for his buddies on Sept 29th. [19], There is a U.S. And that's what it is. He was killed in the line of duty while serving in Iraq on September 29, 2006.He died after throwing himself on a grenade to prevent it from killing others whom he had been assigned to protect on a rooftop. A little-known tribute some Navy SEALs gave to a fallen comrade is gaining notice. 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. by Norman Fulkerson May 22, 2008. 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. But we fight onfor the men to our left and rightwe fight on. From there, God willing, I had the connections because I was a SEAL wife and I was able to reach out to Naval Special Warfare and they put me in touch with Michael's parents. Because of Petty Officer Monsoor's actions, he saved the lives of his 3 teammates and the IA soldiers. I feel like it was about a hundred pounds extra the guys were telling me from bullets from his SAW Gun, which you probably could go into more specifics about, but I meant it was a huge automatic weapon. They weren't Navy SEALs. May the Lord comfort you. The reason I learned a little bit about it is my husband is an active-duty SEAL. He gave his life to protect comrades . 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. The Moving Funeral of Petty Officer Mike Monsoor-Truth! Through this ship: Michael Monsoor will still represent the very best our country has to offer. Read Michael Monsoors Summary of Action for September 29th, 2006, As Kristen Scharnberg of the ChicagoTribune summarized in tribute, The men who were there that day say they could see the options flicker across Michael Mansoors face: save himself or save the men he had long considered brothers. : USS Michael Monsoor DDG-1001 2. And because of that, his men were able to get to safety. Mike and his fellow SEALs accounted for 84 enemy fighters killed in action and the detainment of numerous insurgents. During the funeral, as the coffin was moving from the hearse to the grave site, Navy SEALs were lined up forming a column of twos on both sides of the . All rights reserved. Market data provided by Factset. 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. We're his siblings, just let us be. 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 . Thank you so much for having me and for filling your listeners in a little bit. Michael just took all that on and he was never one to back down from anything. THE ENEMY CONTINUED TO ASSAULT THE ELEMENT, ENGAGING THEM WITH A ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE AND SMALL ARMS FIRE. The name of Petty Officer Michael Anthony Monsoor will now be among them. The following month, his rating changed from Quartermaster to Master-at-Arms, and he was assigned to Delta Platoon, SEAL Team 3.[3][7]. It is heart breaking to hear that, he is gone. Michael definitely inspired him in that, Michael was a SEAL first. As Mikes coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin. All of the rest of the men, three SEALs, and the Iraqi interpreters, survived because of what Michael did for them willingly. The slaps were reportedly heard across the cemetery. An insurgent closed in and threw a fragmentation grenade into the overwatch position. 2006 He was operating with I think eight of them total left out of a normal size of 15 to 20. It is the first Navy combat ship named for fallen Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (SEAL) Michael Monsoor, who was posthumously . Monsoor was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, which was presented by President George W. Bush to Monsoor's parents on April 8, 2008. Ramadi had been a violent and intense area for a very strong and aggressive insurgency for some time. We worked hand-in-hand and one by one with his teammates. Rea: Michael had a crazy deployment and super high tempo operating throughout the whole thing, and then they were finally starting to wind down after about six months. And look at also the actual battle scenes in there were actually taken from after-action reports. 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. 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. Home Haller Motorworx & Farm Equipment Magazine, AR 479 969-6464 Two SEALs next to Monsoor were injured; another who was 10 to 15 feet from the blast was unhurt. Over the next five months, Monsoor and his platoon frequently engaged in combat with insurgent forces. So the majority of the platoon will get ready, they'll pack up, they'll get things on their containers to head home and they'll start getting ready to phase out and the new team will come back in. Only you guys, only the men, and women who have served in these stressful situations can attest something happens. 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. Sally recently passed away, and they were married for 49 years, so that is very heartbreaking. 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. 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 . You had winemakers make a special wine for him. Thank-you again for Michael's service and your sacrifice. After further training he was assigned to Delta Platoon, SEAL Team 3. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. They had been through enough. I mean that's crushing. The other thing, not everyone's going to understand the gravity of this, but he was a new guy. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. 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 . Talk a little bit about the role and responsibility that goes with being that automatic weapon operator. Michael Monsoor is the second Zumwalt-class destroyer to enter the fleet.