april september united_states navy seal killed iraq war posthumously awarded medal honor enlisted united_states_navy graduated basic underwater demolition seal training training assigned seal team delta platoon sent iraq april assigned train soldiers months platoon frequently engaged combat forces september threw grenade rooftop seals iraqi soldiers positioned quickly grenade body absorbing resulting explosion saving comrades injury death died minutes later wounds caused grenade explosion march defense confirmed posthumously receive medal honor president presented medal parents april october secretary navy announced second ship class guided missile destroyers named honor early life education born april california children father served united_states military marine father irish descent mother irish ancestry child afflicted strengthened lungs racing siblings family swimming pool attended california played tight end school football team graduating career seals enlisted united_states navy march attended basic training illinois graduation basic training attended school transferred naval air station italy short period time entered basic underwater demolition seal training graduated class september performers class completed advanced seal training courses including parachute training cold weather combat training alaska months seal qualification training california graduating march following month rating changed master arms assigned seal team iraq war operation kentucky seal team sent iraq april assigned train soldiers machine gunner patrols carried pounds gear temperatures exceeding degrees took lead position protect platoon frontal assault team frequently involved engagements fighters months deployment team reportedly killed insurgents engagement ran street continuous gunfire rescue injured awarded action awarded service iraq death september platoon engaged insurgents killing injuring anticipating attacks seal soldiers took rooftop position civilians aiding insurgents blocked streets nearby mosque broadcast message people fight americans iraqi soldiers protecting seals feet away position seal rooftop quick access escape route grenade thrown rooftop street grenade hit chest fell floor immediately grenade jumped grenade covering body grenade exploded seconds later body absorbed force blast severely wounded evacuated immediately died minutes later seals time injured explosion survived died september iraq described quiet professional fun loving guy knew buried fort national cemetery san_diego funeral funeral coffin moving grave site navy seals lined forming column sides route coffin moving center coffin passed seal gold removed uniform deeply embedded wooden coffin nearly minutes cemetery nearly seal west_coast repeated act display moved attending funeral including president bush spoke incident later speech stating procession went nearly half hour simple wooden coffin gold memorial hero forgotten awards decorations medal honor march defense confirmed posthumously receive medal honor president united_states parents received medal behalf april ceremony white house held president fourth american second navy seal killed line duty receive highest military award war terrorism medal honor citation president united_states congress takes pride presenting medal honor posthumously master arms second class sea air united states navy service set forth following citation conspicuous gallantry risk life duty serving automatic weapons gunner naval special warfare task group arabian peninsula support operation iraqi freedom september member combined seal sniper element tasked providing early warning stand protection rooftop held sector iraq petty officer distinguished exceptional bravery face grave danger early morning insurgents prepared execute coordinated attack area element position element thwarted enemy initial attempt eliminating insurgents enemy continued assault element engaging rocket propelled grenade small arms fire enemy activity increased took position machine gun teammates roof seals watched enemy activity threw hand grenade unseen location bounced petty officer chest landed escaped blast chose instead protect teammates instantly regard safety threw grenade absorb force explosion body saving lives teammates courage fighting spirit devotion duty face certain death petty officer gave life country reflecting great credit highest traditions citation conspicuous gallantry action enemy platoon machine gunner sea air land team naval special warfare task group arabian peninsula task unit support operation iraqi freedom petty officer element providing security counter operations moving extraction naval special warfare team received effective enemy automatic weapons fire resulting seal wounded action immediately petty officer complete disregard safety exposed heavy enemy fire order provide fire fight way wounded seal position continued provide effective fire simultaneously dragging wounded seal safety petty officer maintained fire wounded seal received tactical casualty treatment leg helped load wounded teammate high mobility multi purpose wheeled vehicle evacuation returned combat bold initiative courage complete dedication duty reflected great credit upheld highest traditions citation heroic achievement connection combat operations enemy task unit iraq support operation iraqi freedom april september different operations exposed heavy enemy fire teammates fire aggressively stabilized chaotic situation focused determination tactical awareness time insurgents assaulted team small arms fire rocket propelled grenades quickly assessed situation determined best course action counter enemy assaults implemented plan gain best tactical advantage decisive heroic actions resulted enemy killed saved lives teammates soldiers extraordinary guidance initiative total dedication duty reflected great credit upheld highest traditions legacy honored naming named streets october united_states secretary navy announced second ship class destroyers named honor naval naval unit named based california unit symbol composed petty officer medal honor seal master arms shield unit knows petty officer career history shares new cadets
Michael A. Monsoor