Forged by Adversity: Remembering MA2 Michael Monsoor

Petty Officer Second Class Mosoor is just one of the many brave men and women - and families - we remember on Memorial Day. 'By his undaunted courage, fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of certain death, Petty Officer Monsoor gallantly gave his life for his country.'

WASHINGTON, DC (Catholics in the Military) - US Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor was 25 years old the day an insurgent's grenade hit him in the chest and landed on the ground in front of him, effectively blocking the only exit for him and eleven others on mission in the Ma'laab district of  Ramadi, Iraq.  With the grenade's fuse too short to toss out, Monsoor chose to give his life so that others might live. The only one who could have saved himself, Petty Officer Second Class Monsoor instead shielded the others- three US Navy Seals and eight Iraqi soldiers- by throwing himself on the explosive. He was two weeks shy of rotating out to go home. Born in 1981, Michael was of Christian Arab descent and a devout practicing Catholic. The son of a Marine, Michael was drawn to the special operations elite force of US Navy SEALs (SEa, Air, and Land) and ultimately assigned to Delta Platoon, SEAL Team Three. Upon reporting for duty in Ramadi, Petty Officer Second Class Monsoor immediately sought out the Catholic chaplain and went to Confession. Prior to each of Monsoor's eleven missions, he attended Mass. He lived another thirty minutes after his body bore the brunt of the explosion, just long enough to be evacuated to the battalion aid station and die in the presence of his confessor, US Army chaplain Capt. Fr. Paul Anthony Halladay. Fr. Halladay knew Monsoor as "a man with a depth of courage and spirituality." All this transpired September 29th, 2006, the Feast of the Archangels St. Michael, St. Raphael, and St. Gabriel. 

Having previously earned the Bronze Star and Silver Star, MA2 Monsoor was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. He is survived by his parents, George and Sally, and three siblings, James, Sara and Joseph.

At the invitation of CatholicMil, public intellectual and theologian George Weigel wrote an article for his syndicated column entitled "Michael Monsoor: Martyr of Charity?" In it, the author considered similarities between the sacrifice of MA2 Monsoor and the sacrifice St. Maximilian Kolbe. Petty Officer Second Class Mosoor is just one of many souls- and families- we Americans remember on Memorial Day, and with the mind and heart of John Paul II, prayerfully acknowledge: "Where did they find the strength necessary to do their duty to the full, other than in total adherence to the professed ideals? Many of them believed in Christ, and his words illumined their existence and gave an exemplary value to their sacrifice." CITATION: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Automatic Weapons Gunner for Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 29 September 2006.

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As a member of a combined SEAL and Iraqi Army sniper overwatch element, tasked with providing early warning and stand-off protection from a rooftop in an insurgent-held sector of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by his exceptional bravery in the face of grave danger.

In the early morning, insurgents prepared to execute a coordinated attack by reconnoitering the area around the element's position. Element snipers thwarted the enemy's initial attempt by eliminating two insurgents. The enemy continued to assault the element, engaging them with a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire.

As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. While the SEALs vigilantly watched for enemy activity, an insurgent threw a hand grenade from an unseen location, which bounced off Petty Officer Monsoor's chest and landed in front of him.

Although only he could have escaped the blast, Petty Officer Monsoor chose instead to protect his teammates. Instantly and without regard for his own safety, he threw himself onto the grenade to absorb the force of the explosion with his body, saving the lives of his two teammates.

By his undaunted courage, fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of certain death, Petty Officer Monsoor gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." -----
©CatholicMil.org, Catholics in the Military 2010. All rights reserved. This article is used with permission. Mrs. Judy McCloskey is founder of CatholicMil.org, Catholics in the Military, petitioner for the Cause of Fr. Vincent R. Capodanno, LT, CHC, USNR.

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