A Medal of Honor

Today the 4th Medal of Honor was awarded to a hero of the War on Terror. Petty Officer Michael Monsoor received the award posthumously today from President Bush. His parents wiped away tears and thanked the President for the award. His fellow Navy teammates wiped away tears as the commendation was read and as President Bush told Petty Officer Monsoor's story. The President was choked up at the end of the story and barely finished. I was wiping away the tears streaming down my face. To say the ceremony was moving is an understatement. Senator John McCain was in the front row, paying his respects to the family.

From Matt at Blackfive: "He received his award for actions in Ar Ramadi, Iraq on Sept.29, 2006. On that day, Monsoor was part of a sniper overwatch security position with three other SEALs and eight Iraqi Army (IA) soldiers. An insurgent closed in and threw a fragmentation grenade into the overwatch position. The grenade hit Monsoor in the chest before falling to the ground. Positioned next to the single exit, Monsoor was the only one who could have escaped harm. Instead, he dropped onto the grenade to shield the others from the blast. Monsoor died approximately 30 minutes later from wounds sustained from the blast. Because of Petty Officer Monsoor's actions, he saved the lives of his 3 teammates and the IA soldiers."

Makes all the petty nonsense with General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker today on the Senate side of Capitol Hill seem just stupid. As Senator Joe Lieberman said, the continuing theme for those determined to serve up defeat in Iraq, they see no progress in Iraq, they hear no progress in Iraq and they speak no progress in Iraq.

But, they support the troops.