Michael Monsoor's Death
Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor was part of SEAL Team 3. In Ramadi of 2006 he was on a rooftop with a team of 3 other Navy SEALs and 8 Iraqi soldiers who were providing overwatch for other military forces. At one point an insurgent closed in on their position and threw a hand grenade up to the roof which hit Michael in the chest and fell to his feet, without hesitation he yelled "Grenade!" and jumped on top of it. Michael was only a few feet from a stair case that could have provided him complete safety from the blast but he chose to sacrifice himself in order to save his team. Michael absorbed most of the blast and succumbed to his injuries 30 minutes after the explosion. Due to his actions Michael was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2008. Because of his sacrafice only two other SEALs sustained non life-threatening injuries. Michael's team credits him for saving their lives and one of the SEALs that was wounded is quoted in saying "He never took his eye off the grenade – his only movement was down toward it. He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs’ lives, and we owe him."