Todays Congressional Medal of Honor featured recipient is Specialist Ross Andrew McGinnis (June 14, 1987 – December 4, 2006); he was a United States Army soldier who was killed in the Iraq War and was posthumously awarded the United States highest decoration for bravery, the Medal of Honor. While serving as the gunner in a HMMWV, his convoy was attacked and a hand grenade was thrown into his vehicle. McGinnis was subsequently killed in action when he threw himself on the grenade, saving the lives of at least four other soldiers in the vehicle. He was the fourth soldier to receive the Medal of Honor during the Iraq War, which was presented to his family following his death. When he was in kindergarten, his teacher gave him a paper that at the top said When I grow up, I want to be __________ and he wrote an Army Man. McGinnis had wanted to be a soldier since kindergarten and joined the Army through the Delayed Entry Program on his 17th birthday, on June 14, 2004. Following basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in Ledward Barracks, in Schweinfurt, Germany. In August 2006, aged 19, the regiment was deployed to eastern Baghdad and he was serving as a .50 caliber machine-gunner in a HMMWV during operations against insurgents in Adhamiyah. On December 4, while his platoon was on mounted patrol in Adhamiyah, a grenade was thrown into his vehicle. He told the other four men about it, so they could prepare for the blast. Instead of jumping out of the gunners hatch, he threw his back over the grenade, absorbing the bulk of the blast. He was killed instantly, but the other occupants were able to survive with only minor injuries. Specialist McGinnis Official Medal of Honor Citation reads: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an M2 .50-caliber Machine Gunner, 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Adhamiyah, Northeast Baghdad, Iraq, on December 4, 2006. That afternoon his platoon was conducting combat control operations in an effort to reduce and control sectarian violence in the area. While Private McGinnis was manning the M2 .50-caliber Machine Gun, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunners hatch into the vehicle. Reacting quickly, he yelled grenade, allowing all four members of his crew to prepare for the grenades blast. Then, rather than leaping from the gunners hatch to safety, Private McGinnis made the courageous decision to protect his crew. In a selfless act of bravery, in which he was mortally wounded, Private McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion. Private McGinnis gallant action directly saved four men from certain serious injury or death. Private First Class McGinnis extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. A ceremony was held in the east room of the White House on June 2, 2008 in which the medal was presented to his family by President George W. Bush. In addition to his family and the President, many other notable people attended the ceremony, including the Vice President, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake, Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne, General Jim Hoss Cartwright, and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Several members of congress also attended as did members of McGinnis unit from Iraq, including the other soldiers from the vehicle he sacrificed his life to save. In addition to the Medal of Honor he also received a posthumous promotion to specialist as well as the Silver Star, Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. (Photos and citation information from Wikipedia.) Photos: 1) Specialist McGinnis at Fort Benning, Georgia 2) President George W. Bush presents the Medal of Honor to the parents of Ross McGinnis 3) President Barack Obama leaves a presidential coin at the McGinnis gravesite
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 15:00:01 +0000
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