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"Soldier killed in Iraq to get Medal of Honor
Ross McGinnis jumped on grenade thrown into Humvee, saved four others

updated 2:01 p.m. ET, Fri., May. 23, 2008
WASHINGTON - The White House announced Friday that a Pennsylvania soldier who jumped on top of a grenade in Iraq and saved the lives of his comrades will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor.

The nation's highest military honor will be given to 19-year-old Army Pfc. Ross McGinnis of Knox, Pa., on June 2.

McGinnis "distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism," said White House deputy press secretary Tony Fratto. McGinnis was perched in the gunner's hatch of a Humvee when a grenade sailed past him and into the truck where four other soldiers sat. He shouted a warning to the others, then jumped on the grenade. The grenade, which was lodged near the vehicle's radio, blew up and killed him.

Lt. Col. Anne Edgecomb, an Army spokeswoman, said McGinnis easily could have jumped out of the truck and saved himself.

'It saved their lives'
"The instinct is, jump out of the vehicle, but his four buddies were in the vehicle with him ... and he chose to place himself on top of the grenade and absorb the impact, and it saved their lives," Edgecomb said.

McGinnis was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, in Schweinfurt, Germany.

He died on Dec. 4, 2006.

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."

FOUR Medals of Honor already! A colleague of mine was on exchange with the US Army, and every day he ran past SFC Smith's defensive position. I'd not heard of the Sailor or Marine before today.

It's about time,

Shared the FOB with 1-26 when I was there. Remembered when it happened. The months leading up to Christmas that year were pretty bad.

Joe D

While we are on the subject, I noticed that General Patreus has about every ribbon there is but no CIB. That's OK but how did he earn the Combat Action Badge? Can't imagine a three-star getting into the fighting.

OIF I,

101st CG

IIRC


Joe D

Thanks, that make sense.