Ross A. McGinnis

Infobox Military Person
name= Ross Andrew McGinnis
born= Birth date|1987|6|14
died= death date and age|2006|12|4|1987|5|7
placeofbirth= Knox, Pennsylvania
placeofdeath= Adhamiyah, Iraq
placeofburial=


caption= Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis at Fort Benning, Georgia
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears=2004 - 2006
rank= Specialist
commands=
unit= 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
battles= Iraq War
awards= Medal of Honor Silver Star Bronze Star Purple Heart
laterwork=

Ross Andrew McGinnis (14 June, 1987 – 4 December, 2006) was a soldier in the United States Army who was killed in action on 4 December, 2006 during the Iraq War when he threw himself on a live grenade thereby saving the lives of at least four other soldiers. For his action, McGinnis was posthumously promoted to specialist and awarded the Medal of Honor as well as the Silver Star and Purple Heart. His family was presented the Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush on 2 June, 2008 at a ceremony at the White House.cite press release
accessdate=2007-11-13
url=http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/03/army_McGinnis_cemetery_070323w/
author=Michelle Tan
title=Medal of Honor nominee McGinnis laid to rest
publisher=Army Times
date=] [MSNBC. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24794042/ "Soldier killed in Iraq to get Medal of Honor"] Retrieved on 2008-05-23 ]

Since the beginning of the Iraq War, McGinnis is one of four known servicemen who have thrown themselves on a live grenade; the others being Marine Corporal Jason Dunham, Navy SEAL Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, and Marine Sergeant Rafael Peralta.cite press release
accessdate=2007-11-13
url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-09-19-Grenade_N.htm
author=Gregg Zoroya
title=In Iraq, coping after a hero dies saving you
publisher=USA Today
date=] McGinnis is the fourth recipient of the Medal of Honor in Operation Iraqi Freedom. [cite web |publisher = Stars and Stripes |title = 19-year-old who died protecting others will be awarded Medal of Honor |date = 2008-05-24 |url = http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=55042 |accessdate = 2008-06-12]

Military service

McGinnis had wanted to be a soldier since kindergarten. Before graduating from Keystone Junior-Senior High School in 2005, he enlisted in the Delayed Entry Program of the United States Army on 14 June, 2004 at the Clarion, Pennsylvania Army Recruiting Station, on his 17th birthday. Coincidentally this date is also the date of Army's founding. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in Schweinfurt, Germany following basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. [cite web |publisher = United States Army |title = Medal of Honor - SPC Ross A. McGinnis - Profile |date = |url = http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/mcginnis/profile/ |accessdate = 2008-06-12]

In August 2006, the regiment was deployed to eastern Baghdad. McGinnis served as a Humvee M2 .50 caliber machine gunner during operations against insurgents in Adhamiyah. On December, 4, while his platoon was on mounted patrol in Adhamiyah, an insurgent was able to throw a grenade into McGinnis' Humvee. Without hesitation, he threw his back over the grenade, absorbing the bulk of the blast. McGinnis was killed instantly, but the other occupants of the Humvee were able to survive. [cite web |publisher = United States Army |title = Medal of Honor - SPC Ross A. McGinnis - Battlescape |date = |url = http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/mcginnis/battlescape/ |accessdate = 2008-06-12]

Medal of Honor citation

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. [ [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080602-1.html President Bush Presents Medal of Honor to Private First Class Ross Andrew McGinnis] ]

Decorations and badges

Notes

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith, USA — first Medal of Honor recipient from Operation Iraqi Freedom.
*Corporal Jason Dunham, USMC — second Medal of Honor recipient from Operation Iraqi Freedom.
*Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, USN — first Medal of Honor recipient from the Operation Enduring Freedom.
*Petty Officer Second Class Michael A. Monsoor, USN — third Medal of Honor recipient from Operation Iraqi Freedom

External links

* [http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/mcginnis Medal of Honor: PFC Ross A. McGinnis]
* [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/ramcginnis.htm Arlington National Cemetery: Ross McGinnis]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEjELGU3bCU Reflections on PFC Ross McGinnis on YouTube.com]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOClztsqAbY Medal of Honor - PFC Ross McGinnis: Staff Sergeant Ian Newland Interview on YouTube.com]
* [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080602-1.html White House Press Release]

Persondata
NAME= McGinnis, Ross
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army soldier and recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in Iraq
DATE OF BIRTH= 14 June, 1987
PLACE OF BIRTH= Knox, Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH= 4 December, 2006
PLACE OF DEATH= Adhamiyah, Iraq