This SHOULD be front-page news...

[Spartan198]

PO2 (MA2) Mike Monsoor, a Navy EOD Technician, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for jumping on a grenade in Iraq, giving his life to save his fellow SEALs.

During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego, as his coffin was being moved from the hearse to the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEALs were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route forming a column of twos, with the coffin moving up the center. As Mike's coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin.



This should be front-page news on every newspaper in the United States, but it won't be because the media is unwilling to tell the American people about heroes like PO2 Monsoor. They fail to remember that men and women like this man risk everything for their right to report on anything at all.

Therefor, I've decided to make this news on every website I frequent because America is never told of the sacrifices of those brave men and women in combat. This thread is NOT, I repeat, NOT about whether the Iraq War is right or wrong, it's not about George Bush, etc., so please don't start that garbage. This thread is about PO2 Monsoor.

The golden Trident symbolizes what it means to be a SEAL. Hard work, determination, heart, and a sense of duty to your family and country. This man has truly earned his Trident by giving his life to save the lives of his fellow SEALs.

Thank you, PO2 Monsoor. You are a full-blown hero, and I will never forget your name.

Note: This isn't a Backroom-chat topic, which is why it's here in the Frontroom. Again, no political discussions, please.

[Reverend Joe]

Backroom.

I guarantee you won't get a warning for this. That's just silly.

[Martok]

Interesting. I'd read part of Mike Monsoor's story (about jumping on the grenade to save his fellows), but I'd not heard about this. Very cool.

[spmetla]

R.I.P. brother!

[{BHC}HolySpagetty]

You know, this is how I am going to die.

Not by jumping on a grenade, but in another way of dieing for someone else.

I fell too strongly about others to let them die.

I truthfully think in a situation like that, I would probably not jump on it, but instead push them further away from it.

And if it was my family, I'd not only jump on it, I'd swallow it lol..

But really, this guy is my hero.

[Kekvit Irae]

Selflessly sacrificing his own life without a second though for the safety of others. THAT, my friends, is the mark of a true hero.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Off to the BackRoom for our hero. RIP

[Pannonian]

Apparently booby traps don't count as "in the face of the enemy".

[CountArach]

This should be front-page news on every newspaper in the United States, but it won't be because the media is unwilling to tell the American people about heroes like PO2 Monsoor. They fail to remember that men and women like this man risk everything for their right to report on anything at all.

If you believe the US Media is not 110% Nationalistic you are delusional.

He was an absolute hero and deserves this medal.

[LittleGrizzly]

This guy is deserving of all the respect in the world, he is the best of humanity, my hero!

[HoreTore]

Uhm.... You want this story on the front page? Do you hate him, or something?

Seriously, you want someone/something you admire on a front page next to "CELEBRITY: I was NARCOTICS-JAILED after BOOB-SEX!"*....?

*actual front page story I saw a few days ago...

[Tribesman]

This should be front-page news on every newspaper in the United States

Why ?

but it won't be because the media is unwilling to tell the American people about heroes like PO2 Monsoor.

No , all the nationals and many of the locals covered the story so they were not unwilling to tell the story .
So why should it be front page news ?

[KukriKhan]

This item has been making the email rounds since this past summer (I received it 3 times myself).

A few details bear clearing-up:

-M. Monsoor DID die in Iraq, smothering a live grenade, 29 September 2006
-he WAS buried at Fort Rosecrans Nat'l Cemetery, here in San Diego 12 October 2006
-his funeral WAS attended by fellow SEAL's, who slapped their Trident insignia on the casket
-he WAS awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions, in April 2008

-his actual rank WAS NOT "EOD2", but MA2
-The photo of the Trident-encrusted casket WAS NOT Monsoor's, but that of James Suh, another SEAL buried July 2005 at LA's Forest Lawn Cemetery, also attended by fellow SEAL's and many others.
-Attaching Tridents to the caskets of fallen SEAL's is a long-standing SEAL tradition
-Fox News, Navy Times, The LA Times and others, DID report the grenade-smothering incident, and the award of the CMH. The incident was also noted here in the backroom.

None of which can possibly add or subtract from the significance of Monsoor's sacrifice. Rest In Peace, Brother.

Just wanted to set the record straight, before the arguments continue.

[yesdachi]

Gary Sinise narrated a piece on him during the republican national conference. It was touching.

Kurki’s right, that image is not of Monsoor’s coffin, his had way more tridents.

You tube link

[Tribesman]

This item has been making the email rounds since this past summer

Yes it is like some sort of conspiracy theory about the damn liberal media who don't report on stuff like this even though they do report it.
So the question is why should it be front page news ?
Is his death any more tragic than the thousands of other deaths ?
Is it more earth shatteringly newsworthy that its just gotta take the front spread ?
Are the same people moaning about this the same people that moaned when the media showed flag draped coffins being shipped home ?
Did the administration put restrictive (but not binding)guidelines on reporting and portraying deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan in the media ?
Didn't the media get stung with a couple of high profile front page stories that were touted by the administration as showing heroic sacrifice and dedicated service that turned out to be bollox ?

All this is is an attempt by some to get some sort of feelgood factor out of yet another tragedy in a pointless and futile endeavour and apportion some blame on the non-reporting that doesn't even exist except in their little conspiracy theory .

[KukriKhan]

Apparently booby traps don't count as "in the face of the enemy".

But Lance Cpl Matthew Croucher, 24, who was serving with Norton Manor Camp-based 40 Commando at the time, was slightly upset to miss out on a Victoria Cross at the same time.

As the Queen pinned the medal on his tunic during the ceremony in Buckingham Palace his girlfriend, Victoria Cross, was thousands of miles away in Australia studying as part of her university course.

Now, that's funny. There might be a woman named "Purple Heart" here in California, but even here in strange-name-land I don't think we'd ever see a Ms. Bronze Star, or Miss Congressional M. Honor.

On-topic: so I guess the VC is for "conspicuous....in the face of the enemy..."?

[Tribesman]

On-topic: so I guess the VC is for "conspicuous....in the face of the enemy..."?

Yep the GC was introduced early in WW2 as the equivalent of the VC but for when you are not in direct enemy fire .

[Strike For The South]

Yes it is like some sort of conspiracy theory about the damn liberal media who don't report on stuff like this even though they do report it.
So the question is why should it be front page news ?
Is his death any more tragic than the thousands of other deaths ?
Is it more earth shatteringly newsworthy that its just gotta take the front spread ?
Are the same people moaning about this the same people that moaned when the media showed flag draped coffins being shipped home ?
Did the administration put restrictive (but not binding)guidelines on reporting and portraying deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan in the media ?
Didn't the media get stung with a couple of high profile front page stories that were touted by the administration as showing heroic sacrifice and dedicated service that turned out to be bollox ?

All this is is an attempt by some to get some sort of feelgood factor out of yet another tragedy in a pointless and futile endeavour and apportion some blame on the non-reporting that doesn't even exist except in their little conspiracy theory .

You are a real buzz kill. I thought the Irish were supposed to be jolly drunks not embittered jaded ones. You sir have shattered my fragile world.

[KukriKhan]

Yep the GC was introduced early in WW2 as the equivalent of the VC but for when you are not in direct enemy fire .

Check. Day is just dawning over here, and I've already learned something new. Maybe I should knock off for the rest of the day? :)

[Tribesman]

You are a real buzz kill.

Look on the bright side Strike , how much would you be buzzing if every day for the past 7 years all your newspapers had frontpage stories of all those killed and maimed in Iraq and Afghanistan ?
I mean maybe they didn't all die like heroes and get a nice bit of special metal for it but their sacrifice and loss is just the same and just as newsworthy .

[Kralizec]

Rest in peace.

[Strike For The South]

Look on the bright side Strike , how much would you be buzzing if every day for the past 7 years all your newspapers had frontpage stories of all those killed and maimed in Iraq and Afghanistan ?
I mean maybe they didn't all die like heroes and get a nice bit of special metal for it but their sacrifice and loss is just the same and just as newsworthy .

I agree. Every mans sacrifice is equal wether he is killed in an accident or steps in front of bullet. They all answered the call of duty and I and my country men owe everything to each and everyone of them.

I agree that men who die less "heroic" are never mentioned. The guy who is hit by a truck or blown to a bloody mess by an IED or the guy who is killed by inadequate equipment given to him by a government that is to incompetent to get things right and to stupid to care are all equally heroic as this man. In fact maybe even more so because the public genrallly regards these deaths as pedistrian.

Unfortunately there isn't much we can do about that. People today have no concept of war or sacrifice or true utter pain. They don't realize men on both sides won't even be footnotes in history hell they probably won't get a 5 second clip on CNN or BBC or Al-Jeezera. Both sides see in themselves a Rambo. War is quick bloody and honorable when in reality war is long drawn out and gut wrenching.

There is no greater honor than serving but that honor isn't because you get to kill brown people or wear a cool uni. The honor is doing dirty work when other men wouldn't. It's knowing what you will do and knowing your wife or honeybunch may screw some loser, you may miss out on your kids growing up or the best time of your youth. You may come back with shell shock, alcholism, or drug dependency or a combanation of the three. You may come back with fewer limbs than what you left with and maybe the worst one of all. You may come back to a populace that has become indifferent or hateful towards you. These blowhards sent you off with smiles and pats and now you return and they spit on you call you a baby killer all because the war has fallen out of favor and its "cool" to be agianst it.

Any man who looks at all that and still gets on that plane is truly honorable and deserves nothing but respect.



However you are picking a fight where there isn't one sweetheart.

[JAG]

Great man, but if anyone thinks that the media wouldn't report this honourable man, you are out of your mind.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Why should this be a front page story instead of others? People seem to love the "jumped on grenade" stories but I don't find split second choices to be as heroic as more drawn out choices.

[Spartan198]

Apparently booby traps don't count as "in the face of the enemy".

They do in my book.
Lance Cpl Matthew Croucher is as much of a hero as PO2 Mike Monsoor is. Thanks for linking to that story.

Uhm.... You want this story on the front page? Do you hate him, or something?

Seriously, you want someone/something you admire on a front page next to "CELEBRITY: I was NARCOTICS-JAILED after BOOB-SEX!"*....?

*actual front page story I saw a few days ago...

No, the celebrity stories should be relegated to the last page. The fact that celebrity scandals take higher precedence in the news makes me sick.

Why ?

Because I obviously hold my brothers and sisters in combat in much higher regard than you do. I'd dive on a grenade in half a heartbeat if it meant preserving the life of even just one of my comrades. I doubt you would have the intestinal fortitude to do that for one of your countrymen.

Take your conspiracy theories

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Because I obviously hold my brothers and sisters in combat in much higher regard than you do. I'd dive on a grenade in half a heartbeat if it meant preserving the life of even just one of my comrades.

[Papewaio]

Because I obviously hold my brothers and sisters in combat in much higher regard than you do. I'd dive on a grenade in half a heartbeat if it meant preserving the life of even just one of my comrades.

The obvious question is why do you devalue your genes to theirs even at a 1 to 1 exchange rate?

I can understand 2 for 1, or saving the life of a child. But sacrificing oneself for one other non-related adult does not help your genes. It also would not make any difference to the number of people in the unit, so you would have to see your competency as less then all others around you. Again saving more then one makes sense, one to one does not seem like self sacrifice, it seems like a lack of self worth.

I think you will find a lot of people who are from colonial heritage have fought very hard not to be a mass of lone pine cannon fodder, so it is strange to see someone choosing that deathstyle choice.

[Hooahguy]

Because I obviously hold my brothers and sisters in combat in much higher regard than you do. I'd dive on a grenade in half a heartbeat if it meant preserving the life of even just one of my comrades. I doubt you would have the intestinal fortitude to do that for one of your countrymen.

not that im saying you wouldnt, but nothing is guaranteed. even though i may say that i wont jump on a grenade, and you may say you will, it may turn out that im the one who jumps on it, while you are the one who jumps away to save your own skin.
just putting it out there....

[Spartan198]

And just what's so funny?

The obvious question is why do you devalue your genes to theirs even at a 1 to 1 exchange rate?

It's called brotherhood. Ask a US Navy SEAL or a British Royal Marine, they'll explain it to you.

And where, pray tell, did I claim to be genetically-superior to anyone? I fail to understand what my genes have to do with anything.

[Louis VI the Fat]

This should be front page news as well!!!

Colonel Robert Gould Shaw was presented a great challenge and opportunity: Would he have his men lead the charge to attack the indomitable enemy's fortifications? Only a few days ago other troops had attempted to take the stronghold and failed. However, if the 54th could succeed, a significant victory would be celebrated by all. To this request, Shaw answered a firm "yes." He would place his duty and loyalty to country, family, and regiment above his own personal desires. For deep within he held a secret fear that this would be his last engagement.

That evening, the brave colonel led his men in the charge along the beach to the stronghold, as shells and shot rained down relentlessly on the gallant 54th. Though their lines were mowed down and bodies strewn across the sand, he rallied the surviving men onward. As Shaw reached the top of the parapet, he was struck by a bullet and killed. The following day, his body was buried in the sand along with those of his men. The mission did not succeed, but the efforts they made and the significance of what was achieved in that fateful event would not be forgotten.

Since America's liberal press won't report this story, I am bringing it to you. They made hate America's brave, but we do not. They wish America loses this war, so they cover up heroic stories of brave men like Robert Shaw. However, the media fails to remember that men and women like this man risk everything for their right to report on anything at all.

God bless this hero and his family.