SFC Jared C. Monti
.Mil news link
To be honored Sept. 17, 2009
Debated putting it here or GD, here won out
ETA:
http://www.sfcjaredcmonti.org
Background:
Jared Christopher Monti (September 20, 1975—June 21, 2006) was a soldier in the United States Army who was killed in action in Afghanistan on June 21, 2006 while trying to rescue a fellow soldier. On July 24, 2009 President Barack Obama signed the authorization for Monti to receive the Medal of Honor for this action. The medal itself will be presented to the family by President Barack Obama in a ceremony at the White House on September 17, 2009. He is only the sixth person from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to be awarded the Medal of Honor.[1] He will be the second Medal of Honor recipient from Afghanistan, after Navy SEAL Michael P. Murphy, who received the medal in 2005.[1]
Combat:
On June 21, 2006, Monti served as the assistant leader of a 16-man patrol and leader of an artillery forward observer team tasked with gathering intelligence in Gowardesh, Nuristan Province, in northeastern Afghanistan. The team set-up a small base on a ridge. The team was also supposed to support an operation in the valley below by a larger Army unit. The larger operation was delayed and Monti's team began to run low on provisions, so a helicopter delivery was made, giving away the team's position.[5]
That evening, the patrol was attacked by a group of at least 60 insurgents who had established two positions on a wooded ridge above the patrol. Monti ordered his soldiers to take cover and return fire, then made a radio call for artillery and close air support. Enemy fire killed Sergeant Patrick Lybert. One soldier, Private First Class Brian J. Bradbury, was severely wounded and left lying in an open between the enemy and the position where the rest of the team had taken cover. Staff Sergeant Chris Cunningham, leader of the patrol's sniper team, called out that he was going to try to rescue Brabury. Monti replied, "That’s my guy. I am going to get him."[6]
Monti made three attempts to reach Bradbury. On his first attempt, he advanced to within three feet of Bradbury before being forced back by intense rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire. His second try was similarly turned back and as the rest of his patrol provided covering fire, Monti advanced a third time but an RPG round exploded at his feet, blowing off both of his legs. Monti died moments later.[7] At about the same time, the artillery and air support which he had called in began hitting the enemy position, killing 22 of the attackers and dispersing the rest.[4]
PFC Bradbury subsequently died when the winch that was raising him to a rescue helicopter snapped. The fall also killed Staff Sergeant Heathe Craig, 28, a medic from Severn, Maryland.[9]
Monti is buried at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts. His grave can be found in section 11, site 38.[10]
A ceremony to formally present the Medal of Honor to Monti's family will occur on September 17.[3]