Army SPC Ross McGinnis to Receive Medal of Honor

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"Grenade. … It’s in the truck," These were the last words of an American hero, according to Sergeant First Class Cedric Thomas, before he sacrificed his life, to save the lives of his four 'brothers." Sergeant First Class Cedric Thomas, who was in the vehicle at the time, was SPC McGinnis' platoon sergeant.

19 year old SPC McGinnis sat in the gunners hatch of a Humvee as it drove through Adhamiyah, Iraq, not far from Baghdad as an insurgent tossed a grenade into the hatch, where it lodged near a radio not far from his comrades.

“I looked out of the corner of my eye as I was crouching down and I saw him pin it down.” said Sergeant Thomas.

"McGinnis could have escaped the blast. He had time to jump out of the truck,” he said. “He chose not to. He gave his life to save his crew and his Platoon Sergeant. He’s a hero. He's a professional. He was just an awesome guy."

According to Army Staff Sgt. Ian Newland, who was sitting inches away, "I saw him jam it with his elbow up underneath him," says Staff Sgt. Newland. "He pressed his whole body with his back (armor) plate to smother it up against the radios."

"Why he did it? Because we were his brothers. He loved us," Newland says.

"There's always talk (in the Army) about being the hero,"

In the military, "everyone always tells their friends, 'I'd take a bullet for you,' " Newland says. "I've read books and seen plenty of movies about it. But to actually live through a situation like that, have someone do that, is just — there's nothing else more courageous that a person can do in their entire life. …So basically, I try not to live my life in vain for what he's done."

Staff Sgt Newland, 27, has been diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury from the December blast and post-traumatic stress disorder.

SPC Mcginnis enlisted in the Army on his 17th birthday, June 14th, under the delayed entry program at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania recruiter's office. A birthday he shares with the United States Army, which was founded June 14th, 1775. He entered the service followed by two best friends, SPC Christopher Manson and PV2 Nicholas Reed.

McGinnis is one of four known servicemen who jumped on a live grenade while serving in Iraq; the others being Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham, Navy Seal Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, and Marine Rafael Peralta. Dunham was awarded the Medal of Honor in November 2006 and Monsoor in April 2008. Peralta has been nominated for the award, but as of May 2008 still not received it. He also shares this distinction being the fourth service member to receive the Medal of Honor for service in Iraq in addition to Cpl Dunham, Sergeant at Arms 2nd Class Monsoor and Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith of the US Army.

Paul Ray Smith was also the first of all Medal of Honor recipients to also receive the historic Medal of Honor flag, of which all future recipients, including SPC Mcginnis.

SPC Mcginnis was also awarded the Silver Star and given a posthomous promotion. At the time of his death he was a Private First Class.

He was a typical All-American kid. He was a boy scout, played basketball and soccer at the YMCA, and little league baseball. He sang in his high school choir, worked at McDonald's, and liked cars and attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. He played video games and enjoyed mountain biking. But it wasn't until he went to Germany that he met Christina Wendel of Ganheim, Bavaria, who he said was “the love of his life.”

SPC McGinnis was assigned to 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry. He is survived by his parents, Tom and Romayne Mcginnis of Knox, Pennsylvania; two sisters Becky McGinnis of Baltimore, Maryland, and Katie McGinnis of Monroeville; his maternal grandmother, Rosalind Knight of Knox; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He is also survived by his brothers in Charlie Company, including the four other soldiers who were in the Humvee with him.

You can see his Memorial Page on the Arlington National Cemetary webpage.