RTTUZYUW RUEWMCS0000 0931844-UUUU-RUCRNAV
ZNR UUUUU
R 021844Z APR 08
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
TO ALNAV
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UNCLAS//N01650//
ALNAV 027/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/APR// 
SUBJ/MEDAL OF HONOR CEREMONY IN HONOR OF MA2 (SEAL) MICHAEL A.
MONSOOR, USN//
RMKS/1.  THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS ANNOUNCED THAT ON 8 
APRIL 2008 MA2 (SEAL) MICHAEL A. MONSOOR WILL BE POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED 
THE MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HIS ACTIONS IN COMBAT ON
29 SEPTEMBER 2006.  DURING OPERATION KENTUCKY JUMPER IN SOUTHERN AR 
RAMADI, PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR SERVED AS AUTOMATIC WEAPONS GUNNER IN A 
COMBINED SEAL AND IRAQI ARMY OVERWATCH ELEMENT POSITIONED ON A 
RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP.  IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON, ENEMY FIGHTERS ATTACKED 
HIS POSITION WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE FROM A MOVING VEHICLE.  HE 
REPOSITIONED HIMSELF WITH HIS AUTOMATIC HEAVY MACHINE GUN IN THE 
DIRECTION OF THE ENEMYS MOST LIKELY AVENUE OF APPROACH IN A SMALL, 
CONFINED SNIPER HIDE-SIGHT BETWEEN TWO SEAL SNIPERS ON AN OUTCROPPING 
OF THE ROOF THAT ALLOWED THE THREE SEALS MAXIMUM COVERAGE OF THE AREA.  
LOCATED CLOSEST TO THE EGRESS ROUTE OUT OF THE SNIPER HIDE-SIGHT, PETTY 
OFFICER MONSOOR VIGILANTLY WATCHED FOR ENEMY ACTIVITY THROUGH A 
TACTICAL PERISCOPE OVER THE PARAPET WALL.  
WHILE DOING SO, AN ENEMY FIGHTER HURLED A HAND GRENADE ONTO THE ROOF 
FROM AN UNSEEN LOCATION.  THE GRENADE HIT HIM IN THE CHEST AND BOUNCED 
ONTO THE DECK.  HE IMMEDIATELY LEAPT TO HIS FEET AND YELLED GRENADE TO 
ALERT HIS TEAMMATES OF IMPENDING DANGER.  WITHOUT HESITATION AND 
SHOWING NO REGARD FOR HIS OWN LIFE, HE THREW HIMSELF ON THE GRENADE, 
SMOTHERING IT TO PROTECT HIS TEAMMATES WHO WERE LYING IN CLOSE 
PROXIMITY AND WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TIME TO ESCAPE.  THE GRENADE DETONATED 
AS HE CAME DOWN ON TOP OF IT, MORTALLY WOUNDING HIM.
2.  PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR EMBODIED THE VALUES OF TODAYS SAILOR. HE WAS 
A SPECIAL BREED OF WARRIOR TECHNICALLY SKILLED AND, TACTICALLY 
PROFICIENT.  
UNCOMPROMISING IN CHARACTER AND HONOR, HE LED BY EXAMPLE IN ALL 
SITUATIONS.  
IN THE WORST OF CONDITIONS, HIS RESOLVE WAS STEADY BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT 
THE LIVES OF HIS TEAMMATES AND THE SUCCESS OF THE MISSION DEPENDED ON 
HIM.  
PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR IS THE FIRST NAVY SERVICE MEMBER TO RECEIVE THE 
MEDAL OF HONOR FOR COMBAT IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.  HE IS 
THE SECOND NAVY SERVICE MEMBER AND THE FOURTH MEMBER OF THE ARMED 
FORCES TO RECEIVE THE MEDAL OF HONOR FOR COMBAT IN SUPPORT OF THE 
GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM. 
3.  WE OWE OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO PETTY OFFICER 
MONSOOR, TO THE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE 
SACRIFICE AND TO THEIR FAMILIES.  AS THE LONG WAR CONTINUES, WE ARE 
REMINDED THAT, LIKE PETTY OFFICER MONSOOR, WE MUST ALL REMAIN VIGILANT 
AND READY.
4.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE DONALD C. WINTER, SECRETARY OF THE 
NAVY.// 
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