War is a failure. No two ways around it. War is a horrific example of our fallen nature but war itself doesn’t preclude love, honor, and sacrifice. In fact, when things are darkest, the light shines all the brighter.
No matter what you think about the War in Iraq, I hope we can all agree that what Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor did was a brave and loving act.
When a grenade bounced off his chest and fell to the floor near his fellow troops, Monsoor acted out of instinct. And yesterday he received the Medal of Honor posthumously.
This from the Washington Post:
His actions didn’t stem from a lack of training. His instant reaction was to protect his comrades.
The Navy says he committed a selfless act — jumping on the grenade and taking the full force of the blast.
President Bush presented Monsoor’s parents with a posthumous Medal of Honor for their son at an emotional White House ceremony on Tuesday.
Bush quoted one of the SEALS saved by Mansoor as saying, “Mikey looked death in the face that day and said, ‘You cannot take my brothers. I will go in their stead.'”
That statement says it all for me. You can take all your geopolitical strategies and your arguments for or against the war but yesterday it was about one thing – in the worst of circumstances a young American gave his life for his friends. And, I believe, it is right that we should honor Monsoor and the men and women like him serving our country. I am awed by such bravery and selflessness.
Such things have to make us wonder if we ourselves would have the courage to do the same; the courage to shine a light in the darkness and the courage to say “I will go in their stead.”
April 9, 2008 at 4:06 pm
“No man has greater love than this, to lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
April 9, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Beautiful post, Matthew. It’s something I often ponder myself. I know I would throw myself on the grenade for my daughters, but would I do it for anyone else?
April 9, 2008 at 6:51 pm
When I saw it that’s exactly what I asked myself.
April 9, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Wait a second here. Not taking anything away from the kid who threw himself on a grenade but we as Catholics are supposed to be against the war. I don’t think we should be lionizing the men fighting in an unjust war. I think you are way off on this one.
Anthony
April 9, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Anthony,
Why are we “as Catholics” supposed to be against this war? Isn’t it up to prudential judgment? Or is there some declaration you are imagining that morally prohibits this war?
JBP
April 9, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Being against the war is one thing.
But an old soldier taught me a valuable lesson once: no one is more against a war than the young people who are going to be asked to die in it.
Petty Officer Monsoor is not “the kid who jumped on the grenade”. He was a man who gave his life so that others may live. If you have an issue, take it up with the people who put him in Iraq, but don’t question this act. Admire it. Remember it. And Thank him for it.
April 9, 2008 at 10:37 pm
This is exactly what I was trying to avoid with this post. It’s clear that many people disagree with the war. However, that does not change the action of this young man.
And please don’t call him a “kid.” He is a hero who gave his life for his country.
April 10, 2008 at 12:24 am
I was against the war, too. But I’m not against what this man did. He is a true hero and deserves all the lionizing.
Whether you were against or for the war before it started, the war came. The situation is completely different now that we’re there and so many are depending on our soldiers and other personnel and the Iraqis creating a safe and functioning society.
The justice or injustice of the current situation doesn’t change this man’s personal heroism and sacrifice.
Bob Hunt
April 10, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Thanks Bob.