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On September 29, 2006, Petty Officer Michael A. Monsoor of the United States Navy sacrificed his life to save his fellow sailors.
Fox Nation’s new documentary, “Man of Honor: The Michael Monsoor Story” premieres Tuesday, exactly twenty years later, telling the story of the sailor behind the medal of honor.
Monsoor received the award posthumously in a ceremony at the White House April 8, 2008, according to the Navy’s website.
Monsoor “distinguished himself through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty,” the site reads.
While serving as an automatic weapons gunner in a combined SEAL and Iraqi Army sniper overwatch element during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Monsoor was placed in a confined sniper hide-sight between two SEAL snipers on an outcropping of a roof, which allowed the three SEALs maximum coverage of the area.
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An enemy fighter hurled a hand grenade onto the roof, which hit Monsoor in the chest and fell to the ground. He was located closest to the exit from their position, but he did not run. Instead, he immediately leaped to his feet and yelled, “Grenade!” to alert his teammates, who would have been unable to evacuate before the explosion.
“Without hesitation and showing no regard for his own life, he threw himself onto the grenade, smothering it to protect his teammates who were lying in close proximity. The grenade detonated as he came down on top of it, mortally wounding him,” the Navy wrote.
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“Petty Officer Monsoor’s actions could not have been more selfless or clearly intentional. Of the three SEALs on that rooftop corner, he had the only avenue of escape away from the blast, and if he had so chosen, he could have easily escaped. Instead, Monsoor chose to protect his comrades by the sacrifice of his own life. By his courageous and selfless actions, he saved the lives of his two fellow SEALs and he is the most deserving of the special recognition afforded by awarding the Medal of Honor.”
Monsoor was survived by his mother Sally, his father George, his sister Sara, and his two brothers, James and Joseph.
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Mike Sarraille, a retired lieutenant commander in the navy who served on SEAL Team THREE with Monsoor, offered Fox Nation an old military adage.
“Rule number one is young men die. Rule number two is you can’t change rule number one. And rule number three, somebody must always walk point.”
To hear more from Sarraille about Michael Monsoor’s heroic story, subscribe to Fox Nation today to stream “Man of Honor.”
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