ROSS A. McGINNIS 1987 – 2006 American Superhero
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 4 December 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 gunner’s hatch into the vehicle. Reacting quickly, he yelled “grenade,” allowing all four members of his crew to prepare for the grenade’s blast. Then, rather than leaping from the gunner’s 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.
Ross Andrew McGinnis, born June 14, 1987, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, spent his formative years growing up in Knox, Pennsylvania. He attended Keystone Junior-Senior High School, graduating in 2005. McGinnis’ parents, Tom and Romayne, say their child had a boring life. As a child he was involved in Boy Scouts, soccer and basketball at the local YMCA, and his church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. McGinnis held an afterschool job at McDonald’s. One of McGinnis’ loves included cars. He took courses at Clarion County Career Center to develop his skills in order to one day be an auto mechanic.
On his MySpace.com page, McGinnis said of himself, “I live three lives, in all three I am the same person, but my three separate lives are not connected in any way.” Of his life in Knox, he said, “One of my lives is the one I had growing up; I had my friends in high school and around where I lived, and I had my family, my two older sisters and parents. I barely get to see this life anymore.” He noted in his blog that he was anxious to return to Pennsylvania to see his family and friends. He was to go on leave in early April, and his friends noted their excitement to see him again.
Everyone who knew him described McGinnis as a happy, fun-living guy who brought a smile to the face of everyone around him. Squad leader Ian Newland said of him, “His personality and humor made him stand out. He was the comedian out of everybody. You could be having the worst day in the field, or the worst day in the rear “D,” and Ross would come in a room and everybody would be laughing within three minutes.” His teachers too, though not remembering him for scholastic achievement, remembered his charm and personality. His automotive instructor at the Clarion Career Center said that McGinnis was “the type of student that made me proud to be a teacher.”
On his 17th birthday in 2004, Ross McGinnis enlisted for the Army through the Delayed Entry Program. Upon turning 18 and graduating high school, he would officially be enlisted in the Army and ready to ship off to basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia. From Georgia, McGinnis moved to Schweinfurt, Germany, with the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment. That is where McGinnis claimed his second life was, “I have another group of friends there, and this is where I spent most of my life the past year. In this life is where I met my true love, and my soul mate, Christina Wendel.” From Germany, his regiment was shipped to Baghdad, Iraq. McGinnis served as an M2 .50-caliber machine gunner in 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment. Their mission was to enter the extremely hostile environment of Adhamiyah, Iraq.
McGinnis called his time with the army his third life, “My third life is my army life – yet again another large group of friends, who are more like a bunch of brothers. The kind of brothers you can joke with and cry with. This is where I will be living my life for the next year. It’s not going to be an easy life here in Iraq; I have already had a couple life altering experiences. But they will not change me mentally… I just cannot wait for the day when I can connect all three lives into one. But that day will not be for a long time.” After only being deployed for a short four months, McGinnis made the ultimate sacrifice for his platoon.
On duty that fateful day, December 4, 2006, McGinnis’ platoon was out patrolling the streets of Adhamiyah when an insurgent threw a grenade into the Humvee that McGinnis was gunning. After yelling “Grenade!” in warning to the other members of his team, McGinnis threw himself on top of the grenade in order to absorb the brunt of the explosion. The explosion killed him immediately. Because of his bravery and sacrifice for his team, McGinnis was posthumously promoted to Specialist. He was also awarded the Silver Star (the third highest military honor), the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart while awaiting confirmation of his receiving the Medal of Honor. McGinnis’ other decorations included the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Combat Infantryman Badge.
McGinnis was awarded the Medal of Honor on June 2, 2008, in the East Room of the White House. His mother, father, two sisters, brother-in-law, platoon members, other Medal of Honor winners, and other distinguished guests were in attendance. President Bush conducted the ceremony, with a military aide reading the official citation, which concluded, “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.” McGinnis is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
LEONARD B. KELLER 1947 – 2009 American Superhero
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sweeping through an area where an enemy ambush had occurred earlier, Sgt. Keller’s unit suddenly came under Intense automatic weapons and small-arms fire from a number of enemy bunkers and numerous snipers in nearby trees. Sgt. Keller quickly moved to a position where he could fire at a bunker from which automatic fire was received, killing 1 Viet Cong who attempted to escape. Leaping to the top of a dike, he and a comrade charged the enemy bunkers, dangerously exposing themselves to the enemy fire. Armed with a light machine gun, Sgt. Keller and his comrade began a systematic assault on the enemy bunkers. While Sgt. Keller neutralized the fire from the first bunker with his machine gun, the other soldier threw in a hand grenade killing its occupant. Then he and the other soldier charged a second bunker, killing its occupant. A third bunker contained an automatic rifleman who had pinned down much of the friendly platoon. Again, with utter disregard for the fire directed to them, the 2 men charged, killing the enemy within. Continuing their attack, Sgt. Keller and his comrade assaulted 4 more bunkers, killing the enemy within. During their furious assault, Sgt. Keller and his comrade had been almost continuously exposed to intense sniper fire as the enemy desperately sought to stop their attack. The ferocity of their assault had carried the soldiers beyond the line of bunkers into the treeline, forcing snipers to flee. The 2 men gave immediate chase, driving the enemy away from the friendly unit. When his ammunition was exhausted, Sgt. Keller returned to the platoon to assist in the evacuation of the wounded. The 2-man assault had driven an enemy platoon from a well prepared position, accounted for numerous enemy dead, and prevented further friendly casualties. Sgt. Keller’s selfless heroism and indomitable fighting spirit saved the lives of many of his comrades and inflicted serious damage on the enemy. His acts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
Leonard B. “Len” Keller, a native of Illinois, was drafted into the U.S. Army from Chicago in the spring of 1966. He attended basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and advanced infantry training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Sent to Vietnam that summer with the 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, Keller and his unit performed reconnaissance missions in the Mekong Delta.
By May 2, 1967, Mr. Keller was serving as a sergeant in Company A, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. On that day, in the Ap Bac Zone, Republic of Vietnam, Keller and fellow soldier Specialist Four Raymond R. Wright stormed a series of enemy bunkers which were firing on their unit. For their actions, both Mr. Keller and Mr. Wright were awarded the Medal of Honor. The medal was formally presented to him on September 19, 1968, by President Lyndon B. Johnson during a ceremony at the White House.
After being discharged from the military in August 1968, Mr. Keller married and eventually moved to Florida. His wife was a veteran of the United States Navy, and Mr. worked for the Navy in Pensacola.
Mr. Keller died at age 62 after a motorcycle accident in Milton, Florida. He was leaving a Fleet Reserve Association veterans’ club when he lost control of his three-wheeled Harley-Davidson. The vehicle rolled several times and landed on top of him. He was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, where he died.
JARED CHRISTOPHER MONTI 1975 – 2006 American Superhero
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sergeant First Class Monti distinguished himself at the cost of his life while serving as a team leader with the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3d Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan on 21 June 2006. On that day, Sergeant First Class Monti was leading a mission to gather intelligence and to direct fires against the enemy in support of a squadron-size interdiction mission. While at an observation position on top of a mountain ridge, Sergeant First Class Monti’s sixteen-man patrol came under attack by a superior force consisting of as many as 50 enemy fighters. On the verge of being overrun, Sergeant First Class Monti directed his patrol to set up a hasty defensive position behind a collection of rocks. He then began to call for indirect fire from a nearby support base; accurately bringing the rounds upon the enemy who had closed to within 50 meters of his position. While still calling for fire, Sergeant First Class Monti personally engaged the enemy with his rifle and a grenade, successfully disrupting an attempt to flank the patrol. Sergeant First Class Monti then realized that one of his Soldiers was lying wounded and exposed in the open ground between the advancing enemy and the patrol’s position. With complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant First Class Monti moved from behind the cover of the rocks into the face of withering enemy fire. After closing within meters of his wounded Soldier, the heavy volume of fire forced Sergeant First Class Monti to seek cover. Sergeant First Class Monti then gathered himself and rose again to maneuver through a barrage of enemy fire to save his wounded Soldier. Again, Sergeant First Class Monti was driven back by relentless enemy fire. Unwilling to leave his Soldier wounded and exposed, Sergeant First Class Monti made another attempt to move across open terrain and through the enemy fire to the aide of his wounded Soldier. On his third attempt, Sergeant First Class Monti was mortally wounded, sacrificing his own life in an effort to save his Soldier. Sergeant First Class Monti’s acts of heroism inspired the patrol to fight off the larger enemy force. Sergeant First Class Monti’s immeasurable courage and uncommon valor were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, 3d Squadron 71st Cavalry Regiment, the 3d Brigade Combat Team, the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), and the United States Army.
Sergeant First Class Jared Christopher Monti – United States Army
Jared Christopher Monti was born in Abington, Massachusetts, on September 20, 1975, to Paul, a school teacher, and Janet Monti. He grew up in Raynham, Massachusetts and graduated from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School in 1994.
After enlisting in the Army in March 1993, he completed basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. and was one of the first soldiers to undergo forward observer training with the 82nd Airborne. Monti, a fire support specialist, served as a staff sergeant with the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.