Here's a short news clip of the Medal of Honor ceremony yesterday that recognized the heroism of Navy SEAL Michael A. Monsoor.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24017137/
From the Medal of Honor citation:
The President of the United States, in the name of the Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor, posthumously, to Master At Arms Second Class, Sea, Air and Land, Michael A. Monsoor, United States Navy. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Automatic Weapons Gunner for Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 29 September 2006.
"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."-John 15:13.
ReplyDelete-Sarge
Something struck me while listening to someone, I think a fellow SEAL, describe the situation. He said something to the effect of, looking from the outside in, Monsoor had two choices upon noticing the grenade: he could have quite understandably taken cover to preserve his life or he could have done what he actually ended up doing, which resulted in his death. The SEAL commented that, from Monsoor's perspective, there was only ONE choice and that was to sacrifice his safety and, ultimately, his life for his friends.
ReplyDeleteThe split-second moment of decision that changed everything for Monsoor is certainly worth reflecting on. That he had to make it in such haste only magnifies his heroism. He didn't have hours to weigh the pros and cons or to talk to family and friends about it. Maybe he thought about a scenario like this prior, in the abstract sense but when "the time for choosing" arrived he displayed self-determination at its finest: He was in charge. The verse cited above says it all. This is the stuff of heroes, saints, even.