MOH for Pfc Ross McGinnis
 

[url]http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24794042/[/url]

Well done Pfc Ross McGinnis!! Rest in Peace soldier!

Amazing! This restores my hope for some of the younger generation.
RIP PFC.
You will be missed.

From SSG Buehler about SPC Ross McGinnis (who saved his life):


SPC McGinnis was a great soldier and I am alive due to his sacrifice. I was the driver of the vehicle the day we lost Ross to a cowardly enemy. I thank God everyday for blessing me with the opportunity to serve with such a brave man. For those of you that think the award process is moving to slow just know that it is seen and evaluated by many people in our chain of command. I as well would like to see it ASAP. The award requires alot of diagrams, witness statements from all who were there, and those that approve and later send to congress need to see what happened in detail otherwise they would be giving awards based on word of mouth.

I agree with SSG Troy Smith, it is carefully looked over so that no fraudelant cases arise. I have no doubt in my mind that he will receive the nation's highest honor for his heroism. God bless his family and parents for raising such a wonderful person, soldier, friend, and brother!
Rest in Peace Ross. Gone, but never forgotten!
I love you little brother. Thank you for my continued life here on earth and I look forward to seeing you in heaven.

SPC Ross McGinnis will receive the Medal of Honor.

Greater love hath no man . . .

RIP, brother.

MoH June 2 for spc. who smothered grenade


By Michelle Tan - Staff writer

Posted : Saturday May 24, 2008 9:29:41 EDT


Spc. Ross McGinnis, who was killed Dec. 4, 2006, in Iraq when he smothered a grenade with his body, will receive the Medal of Honor, the White House announced Friday.

McGinnis, 19, will be honored during a ceremony June 2 at the White House. The Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor, will be presented to McGinnis’ family. McGinnis also will be honored at the Pentagon on June 3, and a new marker for his grave at Arlington National Cemetery will be unveiled June 4.

The award for McGinnis, first reported by Army Times, will be the second given to a soldier for actions while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith, who was killed April 4, 2003, fighting off insurgents in a fierce firefight south of Baghdad, was awarded the Medal of Honor two years after he died.

McGinnis, then a private first class assigned to 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, is credited with saving the lives of four fellow soldiers.

McGinnis was manning the turret in the last Humvee of a six-vehicle patrol in Adhamiyah in northeast Baghdad on Dec. 4, 2006, when an insurgent threw a grenade from the roof of a nearby building.

“Grenade!” yelled McGinnis, who was manning the vehicle's M2 .50-caliber machine gun.

McGinnis, facing backward because he was in the rear vehicle, tried to deflect the grenade, but it fell into the Humvee and lodged between the radios.

When he stood up to get ready to jump out of the vehicle, as he had been trained to do, McGinnis realized the other four soldiers in the Humvee did not know where the grenade had landed and did not have enough time to escape.

McGinnis, a native of Knox, Pa., threw his back against the radio mount, where the grenade was lodged, and smothered the explosive with his body.

McGinnis was posthumously promoted to specialist, and he was awarded the Silver Star, the nation’s third-highest award for valor, while the Medal of Honor nomination was pending.

The grenade exploded, hitting McGinnis on his sides and lower back, under his vest. He was killed instantly. The other four men survived.

In addition to Smith and McGinnis, two other service members have been awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq: Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham and Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (SEAL) Michael Monsoor. Only one Medal of Honor has been awarded for actions in Afghanistan, to Lt. Michael Murphy, a Navy SEAL.

Each of those awards was presented posthumously

SPC McGinnis is remembered fondly and honored here in the unit. He was assigned to my company, then C 1-26 IN but we reflagged to 2-28 IN in March under the 172nd IN BDE. A number of his comrades and the CSM will be on hand to honor his memory at the White House.

RIP, Spc. McGinnis.

RIP soldier.

Side note: It's funny how they didn't mention LT Murphy in this text.

Quoted: "Three others have also been awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for their actions in Iraq. They are Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor and Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham."

Maybe because his operation was in Afghanistan? :confused:

[QUOTE=JDAM;1008414]RIP soldier.

Side note: It's funny how they didn't mention LT Murphy in this text.

Quoted: "Three others have also been awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for their actions in Iraq. They are Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor and Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham."

Maybe because his operation was in Afghanistan? :confused:[/QUOTE]

You must have missed it. It indeed differentiated recipients from both A/O's.



RIP Soldier

RIP and you will never be forgotten.

Rest easy, soldier.

Gone but [U]never[/U] forgotten.

[QUOTE=Blackjack78;1008430]You must have missed it. It indeed differentiated recipients from both A/O's.



RIP Soldier[/QUOTE]

OK thanks.