SEAL's Sacrifice Wins Medal of Honor

Sniper who smothered grenade hailed for saving lives of fellow service members
By Marie Morris,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 8, 2008 5:14 PM CDT
SEAL's Sacrifice Wins Medal of Honor
President Bush stands with George and Sally Monsoor, the parents of Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor, at the ceremony awarding the Navy SEAL the Medal of Honor at the White House, Tuesday, April 8, 2008.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

A Navy SEAL who dove on a live grenade to save comrades' lives in Iraq received the Medal of Honor today, the Navy Times reports. Michael Monsoor's parents, George and Sally, received the nation's highest combat honor from President Bush, who wept during the ceremony. Monsoor, 25, died Sept. 29, 2006, as US forces tried to take Ramadi from insurgents.

Monsoor was assigned to provide cover to an Army unit when a grenade hit him in the chest. He dived on it, absorbing the brunt of the ensuing explosion and saving the lives of two others. "He had a clear chance to escape," Bush said today, "but in his mind, it was not a choice at all." (More Michael Monsoor stories.)

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