On September 29, 2006, Michael Monsoor and three SEAL snipers watched vigilantly for enemy activity from their rooftop post in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. When a grenade thrown from insurgents bounced off Michael's chest, he could have escaped. Instead, he threw himself onto the live grenade, shielding his fellow soldiers from the immediate  explosion. Michael died thirty minutes later, having made the ultimate  sacrifice.

This is a somewhat unusual episode of the US Naval History Podcast- it is the first time I am not covering a specific era but a person, and the first time I have guests on the podcast. this episode discusses the life, mission, and ongoing legacy of one of our nation's great heroes is Rose Rea, co-author of Defend Us in Battle and retired US Navy CAPT Scott Smith who previously the commissioning Commanding Officer of the USS Michael Monsoor, one of three ultra-modern Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyers. 

Email me at: ⁠usnavalhistorypodcast@gmail.com⁠

Follow me on IG: ⁠@USNavyPodcast⁠

Follow me on Twitter:⁠@USNavyPodcast⁠