April 8, 2008 US Navy Seal Mike Monsoor - Awarded the Medal of Honor

US Navy Seal Mike Monsoor - Awarded the Medal of Honor

"I can honestly say that as a Pastor I rarely find myself "speechless". However this is one of those times.  After viewing the video tribute to Mike Monsoor I am just that...Speechless.  There are no words to express the profound sadness and yet great...pride, honor, appreciation, humility, indebtedness, glory, at the sacrifice of this young man.        Know that this story will be retold at least from one pulpit this next Sunday and that the prayers of at least one Church will go out for the family and friends of this great soldier.        May God bless you for the work of proclaiming this great sacrifice and promoting what is great about the people of our Armed Services." - Baptist Minister from Memphis, Tennessee, in an email to us at Blackfive about US Navy SEAL Mike Monsoor.

How are we best to tell the story of Michael Monsoor - a man who's sacrifice inspired a preacher to tell his story from the pulpit?

We'll begin at the end this time because, while many of us believe that it's how you lived that matters, how you leave this world can matter just as much.

Saving three of your brothers by giving your life...could you do that?  Mike Monsoor gave three friends their lives that day.

As you will see, the embodiment of the idea of brotherhood is what Mike was all about...

From the US Navy:

Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL)
         Michael Anthony Monsoor
        April 5, 1981 – Sept. 29, 2006

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. He has an older brother James and older sister Sara, and a younger brother Joseph.
                
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. An incredible athlete, Mike enjoyed snowboarding, body boarding, spear fishing, motorcycle riding, and driving his Corvette. His quiet demeanor and dedication to his friends matched the “Silent Warrior” SEAL mentality that was to become his calling in life. 
                
Michael enlisted in the U.S. Navy March 21, 2001, and attended Basic Training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.  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.
                
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.

After BUD/S, he completed advanced SEAL training courses including parachute training at Basic Airborne School, Fort Benning, Ga., cold weather combat training in Kodiak, Alaska, and six months of SEAL Qualification Training in Coronado, graduating in March 2005.

The following month, his rating changed from Quartermaster to Master-at-Arms, and he was assigned to SEAL Team 3 Delta Platoon. He deployed with his platoon to Iraq in April 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and was assigned to Task Unit Bravo in Ar Ramadi.

From April to Sept. 29, 2006, Mike served as a heavy weapons machine gunner in Delta Platoon, SEAL Team 3.  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. 

Mike was also a SEAL communicator.  On 15 operations, he carried a rucksack full of communications equipment in addition to his machinegun and full ammunition load-out.  Collectively it weighed more than 100 pounds.  He bore the weight without a single complaint, even in the midst of the 130 degree Western Iraqi summer.

Mike and his platoon operated in a highly contested part of Ramadi city called the Ma’laab district. During their deployment, Mike and his fellow SEALS came under enemy attack on 75 percent of their missions. On May 9, 2006 Mike rescued a SEAL who was shot in the leg. 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.  For this brave action, he earned a Silver Star.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as a Platoon Machine Gunner, Naval Special Warfare Task Group - Arabian Peninsula, Task Force Ramadi, Iraq on 9 May 2006.  Petty Officer Monsoor was the Platoon Machine Gunner of an overwatch element, providing security for an Iraqi Army Brigade during counter-insurgency operations.  While moving toward extraction, the Iraqi Army and Naval Special Warfare overwatch team receive effective enemy automatic weapons fire resulting in one SEAL wounded in action.  Immediately, Petty Officer Monsoor, with complete disregard for his own safety, expose himself to heavy enemy fire in order to provide suppressive fire and fight his way to the wounded SEAL's position.  He continued to provide effective suppressive fire while simultaneously dragging the wounded SEAL to safety.  Petty Officer Monsoor maintained suppressive fire as the wounded SEAL received tactical casualty treatment to his leg.  He also helped load his wounded teammate into a High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle for evacuation, then returned to combat.  by his bold initiative, undaunted courage, and complete dedication to duty, Petty Officer Monsoor reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The enemy could not deter Michael and his SEAL platoon.  They fought in 35 heated firefights; during these incidents Mike shot tens of thousands of 7.62 millimeter rounds to cover Delta Platoon’s movement through streets that seemed to be paved with fire.  In the Ma’laab district, Michael perfected his skills as an urban machine gunner. 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. 

Delta Platoon executed a broad spectrum of combat operations in and around Ramadi. 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.  Mike and his fellow SEALs accounted for 84 enemy fighters killed in action and the detainment of numerous 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.

Petty Officer Monsoor was subsequently awarded the Bronze Star as the Task Unit Ramadi, Iraq Combat Advisor from April to September 2006. His leadership, guidance and decisive actions during 11 different combat operations saved the lives of his teammates, other Coalition Forces and Iraqi Army soldiers.

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