[Usf97j4x4]

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Monday presented the nation's highest military award to a 19-year-old soldier who died saving the lives of four comrades in Iraq by jumping on a grenade tossed into their military vehicle.

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The honored soldier, Army Pfc. Ross McGinnis, "gave all for his country," the president said somberly.

"No one outside this man's family can know the true weight of their loss. But in words spoken long ago, we are told how to measure the kind of devotion that Ross McGinnis showed on his last day: 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'"

The president spoke in the East Room at a ceremony attended by Vice President **** Cheney, prior recipients of the Medal of Honor, military leaders, McGinnis' parents, Tom and Romayne, and his two sisters, Becky and Katie. The four soldiers protected by McGinnis' actions were all in attendance.

McGinnis was in the gunner's hatch of a Humvee on Dec. 4, 2006, on a patrol in Iraq, when a grenade sailed past him and into the vehicle where the four other soldiers sat. He shouted a warning, then jumped on the grenade while it was lodged near the vehicle's radio.

"By that split-second decision, Private McGinnis lost his own life, and he saved his comrades," Bush said.

McGinnis grew up in the rural town of Knox, Pa., about 60 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

He enlisted in the Army after some struggles in school. Friends and family say they were watching him transform into a man.

Bush called him a regular guy, a dependable friend with a big heart and a carefree spirit. He also had a robust sense of humor, as was known as the only one in boot camp who could make his drill sergeant laugh, the president said.

As a military aide read the formal citation of McGinnis' honor, Bush gave the late soldier's mom a smile. When the audience rose and offered an ovation, Bush gave Mrs. McGinnis a kiss on the cheek and shook her husband's hand.

The president said it was a high privilege for him to present the Medal of Honor, recognizing valor beyond anything that duty could require.

"May the deep respect of our whole nation be a comfort to the family of this fallen soldier," Bush said. "May God always watch over the country he served, and keep us ever grateful for the life of Ross Andrew McGinnis."

[futurepilot]

How come these guys always jump on the grenade. I've read a dozen storys recently about guys dying by jumping on grenades, or jumped into the line of fire to save a friend. I dont know if i buy it, after the Pat Tillman, and that girl that turned out to be made up storys it seems like one too many "dependable friend with a big heart and a carefree spirit" are getting killed.

Where the news reports that go...He lived life as an a$$hole, F#ck em, and heres tom with the weather. A kid i know from high school is fighting overseas right now and hopefully they never give him a he was a good guy speech, he's killed little kids, f'd his wife in the A untill she bled on their wedding night and more, and no he's not one bad seed, theres wouldnt be abu ghraib and the masacre's in haditha, Jalalabad and mazar among many, many others

[b unit]

Originally Posted by futurepilot

How come these guys always jump on the grenade. I've read a dozen storys recently about guys dying by jumping on grenades, or jumped into the line of fire to save a friend. I dont know if i buy it, after the Pat Tillman, and that girl that turned out to be made up storys it seems like one too many "dependable friend with a big heart and a carefree spirit" are getting killed.

Where the news reports that go...He lived life as an a$$hole, F#ck em, and heres tom with the weather. A kid i know from high school is fighting overseas right now and hopefully they never give him a he was a good guy speech, he's killed little kids, f'd his wife in the A untill she bled on their wedding night and more, and no he's not one bad seed, theres wouldnt be abu ghraib and the masacre's in haditha, Jalalabad and mazar among many, many others

dude, mega dosing phera has made you an angry man

acts of bravery like jumping on grenades or in the line of fire is real dude, it's a selfless act that comes with the ultimate gift of all, one's life, it's a shame george bush couldn't do that to save a few lives, he's do us all a favour.

[Usf97j4x4]

Originally Posted by b unit

dude, mega dosing phera has made you an angry man

acts of bravery like jumping on grenades or in the line of fire is real dude, it's a selfless act that comes with the ultimate gift of all, one's life, it's a shame george bush couldn't do that to save a few lives, he's do us all a favour.

It goes against ever natural instict of a human to survive. It is complete selflessness and it absolutely amazes me. If I saw a grenade my reaction would be to get out ASAP. But this guy's instict is to dive on it and save his friends.

That blows my mind. True Hero, I dont care what the hell he's done in life.

[futurepilot]

Originally Posted by b unit

dude, mega dosing phera has made you an angry man.

Indeed it has, doesnt change the fact that twice now, Pat tillmann and lessica lynch were proved to be false storys created for propaganda. I'm all for american heros my grandfathers fought in WWI and II, my dad was in naval aviation during vietnam, and i know a few people serving right now, im not saying acts of heroism dont happen everyday, im saying that the ones that make the news are heavily slanted.

[b unit]

Originally Posted by futurepilot

Indeed it has, doesnt change the fact that twice now, Pat tillmann and lessica lynch were proved to be false storys created for propaganda. I'm all for american heros my grandfathers fought in WWI and II, my dad was in naval aviation during vietnam, and i know a few people serving right now, im not saying acts of heroism dont happen everyday, im saying that the ones that make the news are heavily slanted.

i agree with you on that FP, Jessica lynch have killed it for the real deal heros outhere.

[RobInKuwait]

Originally Posted by futurepilot

How come these guys always jump on the grenade. I've read a dozen storys recently about guys dying by jumping on grenades, or jumped into the line of fire to save a friend. I dont know if i buy it, after the Pat Tillman, and that girl that turned out to be made up storys it seems like one too many "dependable friend with a big heart and a carefree spirit" are getting killed.

Where the news reports that go...He lived life as an a$$hole, F#ck em, and heres tom with the weather. A kid i know from high school is fighting overseas right now and hopefully they never give him a he was a good guy speech, he's killed little kids, f'd his wife in the A untill she bled on their wedding night and more, and no he's not one bad seed, theres wouldnt be abu ghraib and the masacre's in haditha, Jalalabad and mazar among many, many others

Go enlist and serve your country in Iraq. I guarantee you won't badmouth Soldiers who died in combat after you see your buddy burned to death in front of you.

Pat Tillman died from friendly fire but he did give up a multi-million dollar a year job to serve and die for our country. To diminish his sacrifice because it was an accident is ignorant.

[Usf97j4x4]

Originally Posted by RobInKuwait

Go enlist and serve your country in Iraq. I guarantee you won't badmouth Soldiers who died in combat after you see your buddy burned to death in front of you.

Pat Tillman died from friendly fire but he did give up a multi-million dollar a year job to serve and die for our country. To diminish his sacrifice because it was an accident is ignorant.

I agree 100%

I sense some tangential force tugging here, I just put this out there to show what a hero this guy is. Prayers for him and his family.

[b unit]

Originally Posted by RobInKuwait

Go enlist and serve your country in Iraq. I guarantee you won't badmouth Soldiers who died in combat after you see your buddy burned to death in front of you.

Pat Tillman died from friendly fire but he did give up a multi-million dollar a year job to serve and die for our country. To diminish his sacrifice because it was an accident is ignorant.

your thoughts on Jessica Lynch?

i for one commend any soldier who not only fights in iraq but fights anywhere in this world while the "leaders" who send them there sleep safely thousands of miles way.

[RobInKuwait]

Originally Posted by b unit

your thoughts on Jessica Lynch?

i for one commend any soldier who not only fights in iraq but fights anywhere in this world while the "leaders" who send them there sleep safely thousands of miles way.

Lynch sucks. The media and army PR was dying for a cute little blond to be todays "modern day hero". I don't think it was a calculated move to bill her as a hero, I just think they didn't do their homework before they sold the story.

[RobInKuwait]

Originally Posted by Usf97j4x4

I agree 100%

I sense some tangential force tugging here, I just put this out there to show what a hero this guy is. Prayers for him and his family.

He is a hero and thank you for posting it.

[Jayhawkk]

A hero indeed and I know Men and Women with the inner courage to do what most people could not imagine doing. Be glad there are people out there that do these things so you don't have to.

There are always false stories and slanted opinions but if you're so jaded and pessimistic that the first thing when you think of, when you hear a story like this is what you typed, then you, my friend, need to surround yourself with more positive people... I'm a cop for God's sake and I didn't even have that idea in my head and I hate people for the most part!

[futurepilot]

Originally Posted by RobInKuwait

Go enlist and serve your country in Iraq. I guarantee you won't badmouth Soldiers who died in combat after you see your buddy burned to death in front of you.

Pat Tillman died from friendly fire but he did give up a multi-million dollar a year job to serve and die for our country. To diminish his sacrifice because it was an accident is ignorant.

A bad person is a bad person no matter the circumstances of their death. And i wont bother to get in a dicussion with you about the current state of our foreign and domestic policy.

I wasn't making light of his sacrifice i feel bad for his family, but when you die on the job, even as a police officer, the government doesnt use you as a political pawn. The army is just a job right now, maybe at one time it was an altruistic venture, but it has become a substitute for college, and a catch all for people who dont know what else to do.

I used to work at a plant with 2 USMC and i quizzed them to no end about there service, these are their opinions too. They left the army with no skills, 1 guy was PTSD, and they were making $10 an hour.