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Who Really Raised the Flag on Iwo Jima?

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The Few, The Proud, The United States Marines

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Semper Fi!

A Few Quotes Some Might Appreciate......

SAN DIEGO — To his Navy SEAL buddies, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor will always be known as "Mikey," a fun-loving 25-year-old guy who had "a little mischievous look on his face."

It's a face they'll never forget.

On Sept. 29, 2006, while on a mission in Ramadi, Iraq, Monsoor and other members of a Navy SEAL sniper team were within a moment of death. An insurgent had tossed a grenade into their hideout, hitting Monsoor in the chest before bouncing to the floor.

In an instant, Monsoor was on the grenade, using his body to shield his comrades from the blast.

"He never took his eye off the grenade, his only movement was down toward it," said a lieutenant who sustained shrapnel wounds to both legs that day. "He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs' lives, and we owe him."

For that action, President Bush on Monday announced that Monsoor will be posthumously honored on April 8 with the the nation's highest military honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

"Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism on Sept. 29, 2006," presidential press secretary Dana Perino told reporters during a briefing aboard Air Force One. The announcement came as Bush was on his way to Ukraine, Romania, Croatia and Russia in a trip built around the NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania.

Two SEALs next to Monsoor were injured; another who was 10 to 15 feet from the blast was unhurt. They had been working with Iraqi soldiers providing sniper security while U.S. and Iraqi forces conducted missions in the area.

In an interview at the SEALs' West Coast headquarters in Coronado, Calif., four members of the special force remembered "Mikey" as a loyal friend and a quiet, dedicated professional.

"He was just a fun-loving guy," said a petty officer 2nd class who went through the grueling 29-week SEAL training with Monsoor. "Always got something funny to say, always got a little mischievous look on his face."

Other SEALS described the Garden Grove, Calif., native as a modest and humble man who drew strength from his family and his faith. His father and brother are former Marines, said a petty officer 2nd class.

Monsoor, a platoon machine gunner, had posthumously received the Silver Star, the third-highest award for combat valor, for his actions pulling a wounded SEAL to safety during a May 9, 2006, firefight in Ramadi. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for his sacrifice in Ramadi.

Sixteen SEALs have been killed in Afghanistan. Eleven of them died in June 2005 when a helicopter was shot down near the Pakistani border while ferrying reinforcements for troops pursuing Al Qaeda terrorists.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Lest We Forget........Honoring Those Who Have Made the Ultimate Scacrifice

"When Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue!"

April 2008

Apr 06-77|May 06-76|Jun 06-68|Jul 06-49|Aug 06-65|Sep 06-67|Oct 06-101|Nov 06-75|Dec 06-113|Jan 07-78|Feb 07-86|Mar 07-86|Apr 07-112|May 07-130|June 07-103|July 07-93|August-07-79|Sep 07-66|Oct 07-49|Nov 07-42|December 07-28|January 08-39|February 08-21|March 08-35|April 08-43

April 2008 Casualties = 43

April 2008 IED Caused Casualties = 19

*Note* the USMC, US Navy and USAF do not report IED-caused deaths

If any of your loved ones, family or friends have names posted in this tribute to our finest young Americans, and there is not a picture posted, please send me your photo by email by clicking here, and I can assure you that the photo will be posted immediately. Unlike Vietnam, it is my goal, if only for myself, to REMEMBER and help others REMEMBER each and every one of our finest young people who have given their lives for that which we hold so dear!

For archived casualties since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqu Freedom, Please Click Here

For archived casualties since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqu Freedom, Please Click Here

Webmaster Note: It has been brought to this webmaster's attention that the casualty totals appearing on this website do not "match" those being provided by the Department of Defense for "combat related" casualties. This webmaster, as a matter of policy, has chosen to list all deaths that have ocurred as a direct result of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi freedom, whether they were the result of direct combat or not, based on the premise that these fine young people who have so valiantly given their lives, would not have been in "harm's way," had they not chosen to do so in defense of those things, we as Americans, hold so dear. It is, without question, the American peoples' right to know of the "entire price of freedom."