A true American hero was honored yesterday when President Obama awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor to Army Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti.
Monti was killed in action in Afghanistan, saving the lives of other members of his unit when it was ambushed. His actions, racing into the face of heavy enemy fire to save the life of a fellow soldier, are awe inspiring.
Read about them here.
An excerpt:
"With the enemy so close that the 16 soldiers could hear their voices, Monti grabbed a gun and drove the insurgents back once, then threw a grenade when they moved in a second time. An American was down, wounded and in the open. Monti said he would go and get him.
"'Jared Monti saw the danger before him. And he went out to meet it,' Obama said. 'He handed off his radio. He tightened his chin strap. And with his men providing cover, Jared rose and started to run. Into all those incoming bullets. Into all those rockets.'
"Monti's final words were clear and purposeful: 'I've made peace with God. Tell my family that I love them.'"
Monit's parents accepted the award.
Monti was was from Rayham, Mass. He would have turned 34 this week.
