President Obama bestows Medal of Honor on Jared Monti

Obama bestows Medal of Honor on Jared Monti, a sergeant who tried to save a wounded comrade
September 17, 2009 1:32 pm
As he weighs the next step in the war in Afghanistan, President Obama today bestowed the nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, to a Massachusetts man who gave his life trying to save a fellow soldier.

“What can we do to be worthy of such sacrifice,” Obama said of Army Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti of Raynham, Mass. Attending the ceremony in the East Room of the White House were Monti’s parents, Janet and Paul.

Monti, of the 71st Calvary Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division, had been leading a patrol when confronted by Taliban fighters. Monti called for backup.

One member of the patrol, Pvt. Brian Bradbury, was shot during the encounter. Monti twice broke cover and ran into the open under intense enemy fire to retrieve Bradbury. Monti “did something no amount of training can instill,” Obama said. He quoted Monti as saying, “He is my soldier, I am going to get him.”

On Monti’s third rescue effort, he was killed by a grenade and died in the field. Bradbury later died during the evacuation by helicopter.

Obama’s first Medal of Honor comes as the administration ponders the next step in the almost eight-year-long Afghanistan war. The president is weighing whether to add U.S. troops beyond the approximately 100,000 U.S. and NATO troops already committed to help the Afghanistan army fight a resurgent Taliban.
read more here
Obama bestows Medal of Honor on Jared Monti