Medal Goes To Soldier Who Jumped On Grenade

Warrior-Mentor · 12-14-2006, 18:46

USA Today
December 13, 2006
Pg. 10
Medal Goes To Soldier Who Jumped On Grenade
By Associated Press

PITTSBURGH - Pfc. Ross McGinnis was perched in the gunner's hatch of a
Humvee when a grenade sailed past him and into the truck, where four
other soldiers sat during a Dec. 4 mission in Baghdad.

McGinnis shouted a warning to the other soldiers before hurling himself
onto the grenade, lodged near the vehicle's radio, shortly before it
blew up and killed him.

For saving the lives of the other soldiers and sacrificing his own,
McGinnis, 19, of Knox, Pa., has been posthumously awarded the Silver
Star, according to a U.S. military statement released in Iraq.

The medal is given to U.S. Army servicemembers who have been cited for
gallantry in action.

McGinnis was the youngest soldier in his company. His platoon sergeant,
Sgt. 1st Class Cedric Thomas, was quoted as saying that McGinnis yelled,
"Grenade ... it's in the truck!" before the explosion.

McGinnis chose to throw himself on the explosive even though he had
enough time to jump out of the truck, Thomas said. "I looked out of the
corner of my eye as I was crouching down and I saw him pin it down," he
said.

The four other soldiers riding in the vehicle were wounded, but three
have recovered and returned to duty. The fourth is being treated in
Germany.

skeeter8654 · 12-14-2006, 19:26

This just shows how absolutely arbitrary the awards process is. A silver star for MOH actions. RIP warrior, we will not forget.

CoLawman · 12-14-2006, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeeter8654

This just shows how absolutely arbitrary the awards process is. A silver star for MOH actions. RIP warrior, we will not forget.

I do not know all the legalize , but am certain that his receiving the Silver Star does not hamper his consideration for the MOH. I believe it is fitting that the Silver Star is immediately awarded. The MOH, as you are aware, is a much longer process that can take years.

His actions are similar to the most recent recipient of the MOH by the way.

skeeter8654 · 12-15-2006, 00:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoLawman

I do not know all the legalize , but am certain that his receiving the Silver Star does not hamper his consideration for the MOH. I believe it is fitting that the Silver Star is immediately awarded. The MOH, as you are aware, is a much longer process that can take years.

His actions are similar to the most recent recipient of the MOH by the way.

That's not the way the awards process works. Lesser awards are not given as a timely band-aid while a higher award is being processed. You are somewhat right in that it is possible to upgrade his award, but his COC put him up for an award and it was either awarded, downgraded, or upgraded. This is purely a supposition on my part but I find it hard to believe that his COC did not recommend him for the Medal of Honor, after alerting the occupants of his vehicle and then knowingly sheilding them from the grenade with his body, subsequently saving 4 Soldiers lives. If that is indeed the case, then somewhere at some level the award had to be downgraded to a Silver Star. That's a lot of assumptions on my part, but that's not right, IMNSHO.

37F5V · 12-15-2006, 06:25

Well regardless, that young PFC had more honor than any medal you could pin on his chest. RIP young Soldier.

x SF med · 12-15-2006, 07:28

RIP PFC, you are a hero.

**Razor** · 12-19-2006, 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeeter8654

That's not the way the awards process works. Lesser awards are not given as a timely band-aid while a higher award is being processed.

Skeeter, I'm not sure where you obtained this information, but it seems from the information Airborne Lawyer posted in this thread that your information isn't correct:

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...light=mcginnis

I vaguely recall it happening at least a few times during the Vietnam War as well, but I may be incorrect.

**The Reaper** · 12-19-2006, 22:56

Army Regulation 600-8-22

Sec. 578.8 General rules.

(c) Interim awards and awards of a lesser decoration.

(1) To ensure that a deserving act, achievement, or service receives recognition, the appropriate authority may promptly award a suitable lesser military decoration pending final action on a recommendation for a higher award, except for retiring U.S. Army general officers. When a higher award is approved, the approving authority will revoke the interim award in the same orders published for the higher award. The decoration will be returned by the recipient, unless the higher award is approved posthumously, in which case the next of kin will be permitted to retain both awards.

(2) The authority taking final action may award the decoration recommended, award a lesser decoration (or consider the interim award as adequate recognition), or in the absence of an interim award, disapprove award of any decoration.

CoLawman · 12-20-2006, 09:27

[QUOTE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeeter8654

That's not the way the awards process works. Lesser awards are not given as a timely band-aid while a higher award is being processed. You are somewhat right in that it is possible to upgrade his award, but his COC put him up for an award and it was either awarded, downgraded, or upgraded.

Are you convinced now Skeeter?

Congratulations to an American Hero and may he rest in peace.

**Team Sergeant** · 12-20-2006, 09:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeeter8654

That's not the way the awards process works.

Yes it is and if you are unsure or just don't know don't post. This is not a request.

This is the way the Army works as Army Regulation 600-8-22
Sec. 578.8 General rules states.

Now move out and draw fire.

Team Sergeant

**Airbornelawyer** · 12-20-2006, 12:51

The process is also not something new.

In 1918, after his exploits on 8 October of that year, Sgt. (then Cpl.) Alvin York was nominated for the Distinguished Service Cross and the Medal of Honor. The DSC didn't require the same scrutiny and the same level of review, so it was approved first. It was presented to York at an 82nd Division review on February 11, 1919, by Maj. Gen. Charles Pelot Summerall, the V Corps commander, even as the Medal of Honor nomination was winding its way through the system. The Medal of Honor was approved in War Department General Order No. 59 of 1919 and was presented to York at a ceremony on April 18, 1919. The DSC was then rescinded.

skeeter8654 · 12-20-2006, 14:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

Yes it is and if you are unsure or just don't know don't post. This is not a request.

This is the way the Army works as Army Regulation 600-8-22
Sec. 578.8 General rules states.

Now move out and draw fire.

Team Sergeant

Crap, my apoligies for passing bad gouge. Knocking 'em out.

soldierdoc_2005 · 12-15-2006, 13:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoLawman

I do not know all the legalize , but am certain that his receiving the Silver Star does not hamper his consideration for the MOH. I believe it is fitting that the Silver Star is immediately awarded. The MOH, as you are aware, is a much longer process that can take years.

His actions are similar to the most recent recipient of the MOH by the way.

He and two ther Soldiers are also up for the MOH. All three did the same thing...shield their buddies from a grenade.

I just read it on military.com the other day.

R.I.P.

**Airbornelawyer** · 12-19-2006, 19:52

"Soldier who died smothering enemy grenade to be recommended for Medal of Honor"

http://www.estripes.com/articleprint...5&archive=true

FMF DOC · 05-24-2008, 11:55

"The Derrick" Oil City PA press release 5/24/2008

Knox hometown hero Spc. Ross A. McGinnis will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor, during a private White House ceremony Monday, June 2.

The White House formally issued the announcement Friday.

McGinnis "distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism," White House deputy press secretary Tony Fratto said.

U.S. Congressman John Peterson (R-5th) said in a statement Friday "It is with deep gratitude and sorrow that I recognize the selfless act Ross McGinnis performed on Dec. 4, 2006."

"This young man, just 19 years old, was a soldier's soldier who enlisted in the Army to fight for causes larger than any individual - freedom and liberty. Ross gave his life to save the lives of his fellow soldiers - an act nothing short of heroic," Peterson's statement said.

The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 9:50 a.m. in the East Room of the White House with President Bush presenting the Medal of Honor to McGinnis' parents, Thomas and Romayne.

Accompanying events and activities are being planned over a two-day period.

"This courageous act not only defined Spc. McGinnis as a soldier but it is also a testament to his rural Pennsylvania upbringing where love for country runs deep," said Peterson. "Born and raised in the small Clarion County town of Knox, Ross was a high-spirited son, brother and friend to many. He had a contagious sense of humor and a trademark smile that lit up every room he entered."

"Spc. McGinnis is now etched into American history where he will always be remembered for his strong sense of duty to serve his country and his unmatched selflessness," said Peterson.

Only a certain number of guests will be permitted to attend the private ceremony.

McGinnis was nominated by his superiors for the Medal of Honor and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the third-highest award for valor in combat.

It was announced earlier this month that a U.S. Army multi-purpose machine gun range in Fort Benning, Ga., will be named after McGinnis.

On Dec. 4, 2006, he was manning the turret in the last Humvee of a six-vehicle patrol in northeast Baghdad when an insurgent threw a grenade from the roof of a nearby building.

As he stood up to get ready to jump out of the vehicle as he had been trained to do, officials say McGinnis realized the other four soldiers in the vehicle did not know where the grenade had landed and did not have enough time to escape.

He threw his back against the radio mount and smothered the explosive with his body. McGinnis was killed instantly while the other four men survived.

One of those men - Staff Sgt. Ian Newland - was hit in the face and all four of his limbs by shrapnel. He was also diagnosed with a brain injury and considers himself lucky to be alive, thinking of McGinnis every day.

"An average man would have leapt out of the gunner's cupola to safety," the Army said in its official account. "Pfc. McGinnis decided to stay with his crew. Unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own life . . . he threw his back over the grenade."

Lt. Col. Anne Edgecomb, an Army spokeswoman, said Friday that McGinnis easily could have jumped out of the vehicle and saved himself.

"The instinct is, jump out of the vehicle, but his four buddies were in the vehicle with him...and he chose to place himself on top of the grenade and absorb the impact, and it saved their lives," Edgecomb said.

McGinnis was the youngest of three children and was known as something of a troublemaker in his youth.

"He'd remind you more of Bart Simpson than anything else - you know, sort of an underachiever," said his father, Thomas McGinnis. "But when it really meant something, he produced."

McGinnis was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany. He was posthumously promoted to specialist.

VFW Post 2145 in Clarion was renamed this year in his honor, and Knox residents created a memorial bench at the high school.

A memorial scholarship has been established in his name through Keystone SMILES, and Florida teen-ager Destany Hotard was inspired to record a ballad for him.

Current plans are to construct the Army range in 2011 as part of the department's expansion as it prepares to become the Maneuver Center of Excellence.