Ross A. McGinnis

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Ross Andrew McGinnis
June 14, 1987(1987-06-14) – December 4, 2006 (aged 19)
Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis at Fort Benning, Georgia
Place of birth	Knox, Pennsylvania
Place of death	Adhamiyah, Iraq
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	2004 - 2006
Rank	Specialist
Unit	26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Battles/wars	Iraq War
Awards	Medal of Honor Silver Star Bronze Star Purple Heart

Ross Andrew McGinnis (14 June 1987 – 4 December 2006) was a soldier in the United States Army who was killed in action on December 4, 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 June 2, 2008 at a ceremony at the White House.^[1]^[2]

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.^[3] McGinnis is the fourth recipient of the Medal of Honor in Operation Iraqi Freedom.^[4]

1 Military service
2 Medal of Honor citation
3 Decorations and badges
4 Notes
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] 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 June 14, 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.^[5]

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.^[6]

[edit] 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.

President George Bush presents the Medal of Honor to the parents of Ross McGinnis

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.^[7]

[edit] Decorations and badges

U.S. military decorations
	Medal of Honor
	Silver Star Medal
	Bronze Star Medal
	Purple Heart Medal
	Army Good Conduct Medal
	National Defense Service Medal
U.S. service (campaign) medals and service and training ribbons
	Iraq Campaign Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Army Service Ribbon
	Army Overseas Service Ribbon

U.S. badges, patches and tabs
	Combat Infantryman Badge
	1st Infantry Division Patch (left arm) Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
	1st Infantry Division Patch (right arm) Shoulder Sleeve Insignia - Former War Time Service (SSI-FWTS)