Medal Of Honor

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:44:05 GMT

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor

Today, President Bush, in awarding the Medal Of Honor to the family of Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor, who gave his life to save his comrades, stated that "the Medal of Honor is awarded for an act of such courage that no one could rightly be expected to undertake it."

As reported in the article by MSNBC (and also referred to in the Bold Color Conservative blog), Monsoor had three options when a grenade came flying in his direction and endangering him and his comrades. He could: a) find safety for himself, b) try to toss it away and hope that no one got hurt, or c) throw himself on it to make sure that his fellow troops were safe. Guess which option he took?

May God Bless his family and God Bless America!

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13, NIV)

A brief timeout from politics to honor a hero

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 20:54:03 GMT

This is one of my favorite stories of the heroism of an American Soldier.

Oscar P. Austin, Medal Of Honor

From Wikipedia:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an Assistant Machine Gunner with Company E, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division in connection with operations against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning hours of 23 February 1969, Private First Class Austin's observation post was subjected to a fierce ground attack by a large North Vietnamese Army force supported by a heavy volume of hand grenades, satchel charges and small arms fire. Observing that one of his wounded companions had fallen unconscious in a position dangerously exposed to the hostile fire, Private First Class Austin unhesitatingly left the relative security of his fighting hole and, with complete disregard for his own safety, raced across the fire-swept terrain to assist the Marine to a covered location. As he neared the casualty, he observed an enemy grenade land nearby and, reacting instantly, leaped between the injured Marine and the lethal object, absorbing the effect of its detonation. As he ignored his painful injuries and turned to examine the wounded man, he saw a North Vietnamese Army soldier aiming a weapon at his unconscious companion. With full knowledge of the probable consequences and thinking only to protect the Marine, Private First Class Austin resolutely threw himself between the casualty and the hostile soldier and, in so doing, was mortally wounded. Private First Class Austin's indomitable courage, inspiring initiative and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

This is what bravery is about. To dissect the action:

While his group was under heavy attack, He saw a fallen comrade whose life was endanger.
He left his safe position to go drag his fellow Marine to safety, not worrying about what would happen to him
He saw a hand grenade which was about to explode and which would have killed his fellow Marine
So, he then jumped on the grenade himself and saved his comrade's life. Amazingly, he also was still alive.
He looked up and saw an enemy soldier getting ready to shoot his unconscious comrade.
So, then, in his last act, he jumped in the way and took the bullet.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13, NIV)

The Values Voter's Blog: Heroes

Medal Of Honor

A brief timeout from politics to honor a hero