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Blog Archive

2008

May

Americans...will you even take the t...
There's a sucker born every minute..
Put it into perspective...
Wedded to Activism!
We should all do this!
Veteran creed !

April

SUNDAY, MAY 25, 2008 (8:03 AM)

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Americans...will you even take the time to read?

(I'm feeling thankful)

On 7 August 1782, General George Washington instituted the first formal
military award of recognition for any singularly meritorious
action. It was a purple cloth heart, the predecessor of the now-familiar
Purple Heart, which is awarded to any member of our Armed Services who
is wounded or killed in combat or combat-related actions. For this
reason, the decoration carries the profile of George Washington.

But our nations supreme military award was instituted in 1861. That
award is the Medal of Honor. (No, it is not the congressional
Medal of Honor, its the Medal of Honor.....period. And, no, it is not won.)

Some 3,400 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen have
been awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
Most have received this award posthumously.

On this Memorial Day, four young men who served in Iraq and Afghanistan
will not be at the malls, nor will they be at the family barbecue.

These young men are not much different from others who have served in
the past or those serving today in our nations Armed Forces but for
the fact that they responded to extraordinary circumstances with
extraordinary courage.

They are Corporal Jason L. Dunham, USMC; Master-at-Arms Second Class
Michael A. Monsoor, USN; Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith, USA; and
Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, USN.

Their Medal of Honor citations read:

DUNHAM, JASON L. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk
of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Rifle
Squad Leader, 4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines
(Reinforced), Regimental Combat Team 7, First Marine Division
(Reinforced), on 14 April 2004. Corporal Dunhams squad was conducting a
reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah, Iraq, when they heard
rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire erupt approximately two
kilometers to the west. Corporal Dunham led his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards
the engagement to provide fire support to their Battalion
Commanders convoy, which had been ambushed as it was traveling to Camp Husaybah.
As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced, they quickly began to
receive enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered his squad to dismount their
vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several blocks south of
the ambushed convoy. Discovering seven Iraqi vehicles in a column
attempting to depart, Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the vehicles to
search them for weapons. As they approached the vehicles, an insurgent
leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham. Corporal Dunham wrestled the
insurgent to the ground and in the ensuing struggle saw the insurgent
release a grenade. Corporal Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines to
the threat. Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation,
Corporal Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the
brunt of the explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. In an
ultimate and selfless act of bravery in which he was mortally wounded, he
saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines. By his undaunted
courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal
Dunham gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting
great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the
Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

MONSOOR, MICHAEL, A. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the
risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as automatic weapons
gunner for Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, in
support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 29 September 2006. 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 elementâ€™s position. Element snipers
thwarted the enemys 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 Monsoors 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.

SMITH, PAUL R. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of
his life above and beyond the call of duty: Sergeant First Class Paul
R. Smith distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity
above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near
Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq on 4 April 2003. On that day,
Sergeant First Class Smith was engaged in the construction of a prisoner
of war holding area when his Task Force was violently attacked by a
company-sized enemy force. Realizing the vulnerability of over 100 fellow
soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly organized a hasty defense
consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley Fighting Vehicle
and three armored personnel carriers. As the fight developed, Sergeant
First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the
enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the
evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck
by a rocket propelled grenade and a 60mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy
would overrun their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under
withering enemy fire to man a.50 caliber machine gun mounted on a
damaged armored personnel carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he
maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy
force. During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous
actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy
soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded
soldiers. Sergeant First Class Smiths extraordinary heroism and
uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military
service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Third Infantry
Division Rock of the Marne, and the United States Army.

MURPHY, MICHAEL P. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the
risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as the leader of a
special reconnaissance element with Naval Special Warfare Task Unit
Afghanistan on 27 and 28 June 2005. While leading a mission to locate a
high-level anti-coalition militia leader, Lieutenant Murphy demonstrated
extraordinary heroism in the face of grave danger in the vicinity of
Asadabad, Konar Province, Afghanistan. On 28 June 2005, operating in an
extremely rugged enemy-controlled area, Lieutenant Murphys team was
discovered by anti-coalition militia sympathizers, who revealed their
position to Taliban fighters. As a result, between 30 and 40 enemy fighters
besieged his four-member team. Demonstrating exceptional resolve,
Lieutenant Murphy valiantly led his men in engaging the large enemy force.
The ensuing fierce firefight resulted in numerous enemy casualties, as
well as the wounding of all four members of the team. Ignoring his own
wounds and demonstrating exceptional composure, Lieutenant Murphy
continued to lead and encourage his men. When the primary communicator fell
mortally wounded, Lieutenant Murphy repeatedly attempted to call for
assistance for his beleaguered teammates. Realizing the impossibility of
communicating in the extreme terrain, and in the face of almost certain
death, he fought his way into open terrain to gain a better position to
transmit a call. This deliberate, heroic act deprived him of cover,
exposing him to direct enemy fire. Finally achieving contact with his
Headquarters, Lieutenant Murphy maintained his exposed position while he
provided his location and requested immediate support for his team. In
his final act of bravery, he continued to engage the enemy until he was
mortally wounded, gallantly giving his life for his country and for the
cause of freedom. By his selfless leadership, courageous actions, and
extraordinary devotion to duty, Lieutenant Murphy reflected great credit
upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States
Naval Service.

So while you eat your hot dogs or drink a beer at the Memorial Day gatherings with your loved ones this weekend, take a minute and remember who guaranteed US ALL the privilage to celebrate this day in FREEDOM. Millions of Veterans like these hero's and millions others before them.

THINK ABOUT IT

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Posted May 28, 08 by pitviper1 (

)
Great post. Too much info for the average sweet potato anti- war leftist. Maybe they will read some of it, but if they read any of this they will be smarter for it. This one award I am happy to do with out. It means most likely that you are dead. Thanks for this.