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Bush Emotional at Medal Ceremony for Fallen Navy SEAL
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ShareApril 08, 2008 6:29 PM
ABC's Jennifer Duck reports: Clearly choked up, and at times wiping away his own tears, President Bush awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously at the White House Tueday to Navy SEAL Petty Officer Michael Monsoor, who was killed in Iraq in September of 2006 when he fell on a grenade to save comrades during fighting in Ramadi.
Monsoor was the fourth service member to receive the nation's highest award for valor in the 6 1/2 years of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Bush awarded the medal in the White House's East Room Tuesday to Monsoor's parents.
Bush described Monsoor's perseverance as a child, when coughing fits from severe asthma would land him in the hospital. "On some nights, his coughing fits would land him in the hospital. But Mike would not lie low for long. He strengthened his lungs by racing his siblings in the swimming pool. He worked to wean himself off his inhaler. He built himself into a superb athlete -- excelling from sports like football to snowboarding,"
Many SEALs knew Monsoor by his racy car. "His teammates liked to laugh about the way his shiny Corvette would leave everybody in the dust. But deep down, they always knew Mike would never leave anybody behind when it counted," Bush said.
The president noted Monsoor had tremendous strength while fighting in Iraq. "Because he served as both a heavy machine gunner and a communications operator, he often had a double load of equipment -- sometimes more than a hundred pounds worth. But under the glare of the hot desert sun, he never lost his cool."
In May of 2006 Monsoor saved a teammate's life by risking his own and lived to tell about it. President Bush described the incident: "With bullets flying all around them, Mike returned fire with one hand, while helping pull the injured man to safety with the other. In a dream about the incident months later, the wounded SEAL envisioned Mike coming to the rescue with wings on his shoulders."
But Michael Monsoor made the ultimate sacrifice on September 29, 2006 when he saved two teammates' lives. "Mike and two teammates had taken position on the outcropping of a rooftop when an insurgent grenade bounced off Mike's chest and landed on the roof. Mike had a clear chance to escape, but he realized that the other two SEALs did not. In that terrible moment, he had two options -- to save himself, or to save his friends. For Mike, this was no choice at all. He threw himself onto the grenade, and absorbed the blast with his body," President Bush said.
"One of the survivors put it this way: "Mikey looked death in the face that day and said, 'You cannot take my brothers. I will go in their stead," Bush said.
"May God comfort you and may God bless America," Bush managed to choke out near the end of his tribute to Monsoor.
The Medal of Honor ceremony comes on the first of two days of Congressional testimony from Gen. David Petraeus, commander in Iraq, and Amb. Ryan Crocker, US Ambassador to Iraq, who are discussing the war in Iraq, now in it's 6th year.
April 8, 2008 in Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (94)
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Charlie...."he was the fourth WINNER of this medal..."
Ouch.
Posted by: Michele | Apr 8, 2008 6:55:11 PM
If McCain is elected, the American people will not be able to properly bring charges against the Bush Administration for this illegal war. He will be guaranteed a commutation of sentence, just like Scooter Libby.
Posted by: Factcheck | Apr 8, 2008 7:14:46 PM
Come on people. The Awarding of the Medal of Honor has nothing to do about the politics and everything about the selfless service and sacrifice that this brave you American Hero demonstrated. I find it sad that people want to diminish this young mans sacrifice for political retoric and gain.
Posted by: Sean | Apr 8, 2008 7:44:11 PM
You people amaze me. I can't believe that the number one thing you take away from this story is that "Bush doesn't give a hoot". Sick. I am constantly amazed at the fact that so many are so blinded by their political ideologies that they can't see past the wall they've built around themselves. I don't know why, I should have learned by now, that the most "tolerant" among us, have absolutely NO room for a view that differs in the slightest.
Pitiful.
The focus of the article is what is drawing the criticism. Rightly so. The focus more appropriately belongs on the recipient of the medal, and the reasons for it. The lives and service of these men and women cannot be overstated. Sycophant's who allow themselves to get hung up on the President's tears, by reading more into them than is really there, are as shallow as their comments.
It is possible for one disagree without being disagreeable. A quality that unfortuantely we see less and less.
Posted by: John | Apr 8, 2008 7:48:19 PM
Where are the tears for the thousands who die every month from poverty. The homeless who get no healthcare, and little food. How about the thousands who
died during Katrina. In Bush's phoney military crocodile tears,we hear the weeping of the supreme demagogue,who could care less about people,unless it's someone who has fallen during this so-called war,in which he has not one single relative involved. Put your daughters on the streets of Bahgdad, and then maybe we might believe the tears are real.
Posted by: Harry | Apr 8, 2008 7:52:23 PM
He should get a job.
Posted by: Howie | Apr 8, 2008 7:54:18 PM
Hey John. You signing up to go to Bahgdad tomorrow? They certainly need volunteers like you to "protect our national security," and kill our enemies. Whoever they may be in Iraq.During WWll every patriotic male joined. How about you? You could even be a mercenary and earn six figures.
Posted by: Harry | Apr 8, 2008 8:05:30 PM
Well stated Sean.
Posted by: John | Apr 8, 2008 8:05:31 PM
American soldiers are very strong and proud fighters, number one fighters in the world, WBush is not, McCain/McNasty is not, Hill the Bosnian General is not. God bless America and God bless Obama.OBAMA08.
Posted by: BKMC | Apr 8, 2008 8:08:52 PM
Harry, Harry, Harry...The same old arguments are so tired. You need to call the DNC and get some of the newer talking points. Those old one liners are so yesterday. Try the "Bush lied kids died" one, that's been a while.
I mean really...you're honestly saying that unless I'm in Bag, in person that I can't have a positive opinion, or believe in the cause?
Posted by: John | Apr 8, 2008 8:10:55 PM
Whether we agree with this war or not, I thank God every day of my life for peope like Michael Monsoor. Our soldiers and those that serve and protect allow you and me to express our opinions in this manner. In our attempt to force our opinions on everyone because what we believe is what we think everyone else should believe, never forget Michael Monsoor and all those before and after him that allow us that freedon. Please, never forget.
Posted by: Linda | Apr 8, 2008 8:14:04 PM
Because George W Bush rushed us into this mess A fine young man died.
Posted by: Westexacan | Apr 8, 2008 8:14:11 PM
I agree Linda. Completely.
As I mentioned before, the point made should have been more on P.O. Monsoor.
Any mention of President Bush throws some people into a fit.
Posted by: John | Apr 8, 2008 8:17:36 PM
Medal of Honor, That will bring their son back from the dead, yep, a medal for a life...
Posted by: Susan Powers | Apr 8, 2008 8:19:46 PM
Stop hat'n on Bush! One thing for sure is that he cares about his troops! I believe he was very sincere with his emotions! Whether you believe in this war or not, thats what they do, put their lives on the line everyday for this country! So all the name calling is falling on deaf ears, Guess what? Bush is still leader of the free world! Don't you just hate it!
Posted by: antdog73 | Apr 8, 2008 8:22:45 PM
You're a hypocrite John. I spent 4 years in the Army 1968-1972. I was proud of my service, and saw many of my buddies die for absolutely nothing. I am not a Democrat. But, I am tired of rhetoric like yours,a string of cliches,trying to justify this so-called war. If you won't fight in a war YOU believe in,John, then yes you have no say. If you believe in this war so strongly then you must be willing to die for it. Otherwise you are just an armchair think tank intellectual who likes to wave the flag on blogs like this. Bush tells us that this is an important a war as WWll. In WW11 Roosevelt sent 5 of his sons into harms way. You say you're a patriot go and fight YOUR war, and then come back and tell me what it is you are fighting for.
Posted by: Harry | Apr 8, 2008 8:22:53 PM
What's he gonna do when they start dying in Iran, build a freakin' crying room? George, if you don't have the stomach for this war, how about you back off starting the next one in IRAN... Just a thought.
Posted by: ha! | Apr 8, 2008 8:28:28 PM
"I find it sad that people want to diminish this young mans sacrifice for political retoric and gain."
Tell that to the man who held the Medal of Honor ceremony on the same day as the Petraeus/Crocker hearings.
Posted by: A | Apr 8, 2008 8:29:08 PM
Harry, where did you serve? With whom? Where were you sent?
A hypocrite says one thing and does another. Admitedly I am one, but certainly not on this point. If service is a prereq then you are going to have need to dismiss 80% of the democrats and republicans serving in the house and senate.
I agree the war was started and waged poorly, but I agree with the reasons.
Posted by: John | Apr 8, 2008 8:29:47 PM
Moe has a strong point. It's a question that hasn't been answered yet and will never will.
Posted by: Steve | Apr 8, 2008 8:39:45 PM
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