Ross mcginnis medal of honor

American soldier and Medal of Honor recipient (–)

Ross Andrew McGinnis
McGinnis at Fort Benning, Georgia
Born	()June 14, Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States
Died	December 4, () (aged&#;19) Adhamiyah, Baghdad, Iraq
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army
Years&#;of service	–
Rank	Specialist (posthumous)
Unit	1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Battles / wars	Iraq War
Awards	Medal of Honor Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart

Ross Andrew McGinnis (June 14, – December 4, ) was a United States Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the United States' highest decoration for bravery, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Iraq War.

While serving as the gunner in a HMMWV, his convoy was attacked and a hand grenade was thrown into his vehicle. McGinnis was killed in action when he deliberately threw himself on the grenade, saving the lives of at least four other soldiers in the vehicle.

He was the fourth service member to receive the Medal of Honor during the Iraq War, which was presented to his family following his death.

Early being and education

McGinnis was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, on June 14, , to Romayne and Tom McGinnis and grew up in Knox, 90 miles north of Pittsburgh, after his family moved there when he was three.

When he was in kindergarten, his teacher gave him a paper that at the superior said "When I grow up, I want to be __________" and he wrote "an Army Man".

He was a hero to us long before he died, because he was willing to risk his life to protect the ideals of liberty and justice that America represents. He has been recommended for the Medal of Honor… That is not why he gave his life. The lives of four men who were his Army brothers outweighed the value of his one life. It was just a matter of simple kindergarten arithmetic.

When he was growing up he became involved in the Boy Scouts of America, enjoyed working on cars, and was an player playing multiple sports.^[1] He played basketball and soccer through the YMCA, and Little League baseball.^[1] He attended Clarion County common schools and graduated from Keystone Junior/Senior High School in ^[2] He had two sisters, Becky and Katie.^[3]

Military career

McGinnis had wanted to be a soldier since kindergarten and joined the Merged States Army through the Delayed Entry Program on his 17th birthday, on June 14, Tracking basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in Ledward Barracks, Schweinfurt, Germany.^[4]

In August , aged 19, the regiment was deployed to eastern Baghdad and he was serving as a caliber machine-gunner in a HMMWV during operations against insurgents in Adhamiyah.

On December 4, while his platoon was on mounted patrol in Adhamiyah, a grenade was thrown into his vehicle. He shouted a warning to the other four men in the vehicle, so they could prepare for the blast. When one of the men responded they could not see where the device had landed, instead of jumping out of the gunner's hatch, McGinnis threw his back over the grenade, absorbing the bulk of the blast.

Army Pfc. Ross A. Credit is: U. Army Spec.

He was killed instantly, but the other occupants suffered only minor injuries.^[5]

McGinnis is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.^[6] Since the origin of the Iraq War, he is one of five acknowledged United States servicemembers who hold thrown themselves on a inhabit grenade.

The other personnel famous to have done this are Marine CorporalJason Dunham, Navy SEALPetty Officer 2nd ClassMichael A. Monsoor, Marine Corporal Kyle Carpenter, and Marine SergeantRafael Peralta.^[7] McGinnis was the fourth recipient of the Medal of Honor in the course of the Iraq War.^[8]

A ceremony was held in the east room of the Pale House on June 2, , in which the medal was presented to his family by President George W.

Bush.^[9][10] In addition to his family and the President, many other notable people attended the ceremony, including the Vice President, the Secretary of Veterans AffairsJames Peake, Secretary of the ArmyPete Geren, Secretary of the Air ForceMichael Wynne, General Jim "Hoss" Cartwright, and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

Several members of Congress also attended as did members of McGinnis' unit from Iraq, including the other soldiers from the vehicle he sacrificed his life to save.^[3]

Awards and decorations

In addition to the Medal of Honor he also received a posthumous promotion to specialist as well as the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his experience above and beyond the dial 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 caliber Machine Gunner, 1st Platoon, C Firm, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Adhamiyah, Northeast Baghdad, Iraq, on December 4,

That afternoon his platoon was conducting combat manage operations in an effort to reduce and control sectarian abuse in the area.

While Secret McGinnis was manning the M2 caliber Machine Gun, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner's hatch into the vehicle. Reacting rapidly, 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.

Spc. Ross Andrew McGinnis received the Medal of Honor posthumously during a White Property ceremony June 2, for heroic actions savings the lives of 4 soldiers.

In a selfless act of bravery, in which he was mortally wounded, Personal 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.

Secret First Class McGinnis' extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the charge of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect superb credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.^[3]

Other honors

A PBS Special Report chronicled the life of McGinnis as told by his parents, friends and the people of his hometown of Knox, Clarion County, Pennsylvania.^[2]

See also

Notes

External links