Service Details
Navy SEAL Medal of Honor recipient from Garden Grove.
United States Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient from Garden Grove who sacrificed his life protecting fellow SEALs in Iraq.
Michael Anthony Monsoor was a U.S. Navy SEAL who received the Medal of Honor posthumously for heroic actions during the Iraq War. He sacrificed his life on September 29, 2006, in Ramadi, Iraq, by throwing himself onto a grenade to save fellow SEALs.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Michael Anthony Monsoor
- Born: April 5, 1981 — Long Beach, California
- Died: September 29, 2006 — Ar Ramadi, Iraq
- Branch: United States Navy
- Rank: Master-at-Arms Second Class (SEAL)
- Unit: SEAL Team 3, Delta Platoon
- Conflict: Iraq War / Operation Iraqi Freedom
Where He Lived
- Grew up in Garden Grove, California
- Attended Garden Grove High School, graduating in 1999
- Buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California
Medal of Honor Action
During rooftop operations in insurgent-held Ramadi, a grenade landed among Monsoor and nearby teammates. Although he had the best chance to escape, he deliberately covered the grenade with his body, absorbing the blast and saving the lives of two fellow SEALs. He died roughly 30 minutes later from his wounds.
Medal of Honor Presentation
President George W. Bush presented the Medal of Honor to Monsoor’s parents at the White House on April 8, 2008.
Service Dates
- Entered the U.S. Navy: 2001
- Became a Navy SEAL after BUD/S Class 250 in 2004
- Served until killed in action in 2006
Awards
- Medal of Honor
- Silver Star
- Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”
- Purple Heart
- Combat Action Ribbon
Legacy
- The guided missile destroyer USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) was named in his honor.
- His funeral became widely known when fellow SEALs placed their gold Trident insignia into his coffin in tribute.
Photo Links
Official Navy page with photos:
https://www.navy.mil/MEDAL-OF-HONOR-RECIPIENT-MICHAEL-A-MONSOOR/
Congressional Medal of Honor Society page:
https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/michael-a-monsoor
Wikipedia page with multiple photos:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_A._Monsoor