| Spc. Ross A. McGinnis has been nominated by his commanders for the Medal of Honor, said Maj. Sean Ryan, a spokesman for 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. On Dec. 4, while on duty in Baghdad, Iraq, McGinnis used his body to smother a grenade, saving the lives of four fellow soldiers. McGinnis died from the blast. McGinnis, 19, was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, which is attached to 2nd BCT. Only one soldier and one Marine have received the Medal of Honor since the beginning of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and there has been debate about why there have been so few recipients of the nation’s highest award for valor. McGinnis’ family will have a memorial service for him at 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Knox, Pa. His remains will later be transferred to Arlington National Cemetery. According to information provided Tuesday by Multi-National Division-Baghdad, McGinnis was manning the gunner’s hatch when an insurgent tossed a grenade from above. The grenade flew past McGinnis and down through the hatch before lodging near the radio. His platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Cedric Thomas, was in the vehicle at the time. McGinnis “yelled, ‘Grenade. … It’s in 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.” McGinnis could have escaped the blast, Thomas said. “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.” Three of the soldiers in the vehicle with McGinnis suffered minor injuries. Two of them have returned to duty. The fourth soldier is recovering in Germany. McGinnis was approved Monday for a Silver Star, the nation’s third highest award for valor, according to a press release from MND-B. In it, he was referred to as a private first class. His company commander, Capt. Michael Baka, had signed a waiver to promote McGinnis the morning he died. McGinnis was posthumously promoted to specialist, Baka said. |
| Spc. Ross A. McGinnis United States Army National Medal of Honor Silver Star |
| SIGN GUESTBOOK |
| Tributes June 12, 2008 KEVIN HUGGARD ANOTHER HERO HAS DIED... AND ANOTHER LEGEND BORN. YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. SEMPER FI June 11, 2008 -David Rauber I would like to thank Ross and all the fallen hero's that have so bravely giving their all to America. You are true heroes and will never be forgotten. Ross showed he had as much courage as anyone that has ever worn a uniform in combat. June 9, 2008 Linda Greene Since I heard the story of your Son. My heart has just ached for you and your family. My Son is also a US Army Soldier. I pray for you daily and I am so deeply in depthed to your Son for the courage he bestowed on that day. I am so grateful that there are Men like him protecting our nation. May God bless you and your family and keep you in the palm of his hand. Sincerely, Linda Greene June 8, 2008 Richard Smith Mere word cannot convey the words of honor that you deserve for your unselfish act of valor. "Greater love hath no man than this, to give up his life for that of another". I and many, many others appreciate the sacrifice that this brave man made to help others stay alive. May you sit at the throne of God and know peace. Thank you Ross. June 3, 2008 M. Schaffer To the McGinnis family--Today I learned of the great and courageous sacrifice Ross McGinnis gave for his country and his fellow soldiers. A radio show dedicated an hour talking about Ross. As a mother of a young son, I was saddened by news of your loss. Between the tears must also be the pride in knowing what kind of man your son was. May God bless you and may the memories of your child pull you through those lonely days. June 2, 2008 Heather Hand Spc. McGinnis You well earned every medal that has been awarded to you. You unselfishly gave your life for those who were with you to live. I know that you are in Heaven looking down & protecting those who loved you while you were here on Earth. Heather Hand May 31, 2008 Tim McCall Spc. Ross A. McGinnis I pray for the friends and family you left behind. May their grief and sorrow be replaced in time with happiness and joy. The biggest price our country pays is losing fine young men like you. May the men you saved carry you in their hearts and live their lives as a memorial to your heroism. I really appreciated reading the article where you dad was interviewed and he attempted to put a human face on you. With your faults and goodness for all to see. I looked at your Myspace page. It really touched me deeply. Every man we lose has a family and loved ones. Hopes, dreams and aspirations. Reading about you really brought it close to home for me. When I read about your friends daughter remembering you in her prayers every night, it brought me to tears. Thank you for your sacrifice Ross. May you be blessed in heaven. Timothy McCall Former Corporal US Marines 1979-1983 Veteran - Beirut Multi-National Peacekeeping Force Jan 4, 2008 SFC Rod Brewer Christmas in Arlington.... Rest easy, sleep well my brother. Know the line has held, your job is done. Rest easy, sleep well. Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held. Peace, peace, and farewell..... Ross, You Will Not Be Forgotten.... If anyone deserved the Silver Star. If I had been one to decide from the write-ups... You would have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Salud... Salud... Salud... Rod. July 31, 2007 Mary Tsukalas tsukfamily@hotmail.com Though I did not know Ross, I was touched by the heroism of this young soldier. I would like to draw a portrait of Ross for the family at no charge, that they may have a special piece of artwork to honor him. Some of my work can be seen at http://marysplace4art.homestead.com/portraits2.html May God watch over Ross and his family. Mary July 15, 2007 Stephanie Wright In Honor Of SPC Ross A McGinnis Ross' sacrifice is one that we are trying to keep alive through the sales of lanterns that are insigniated with his name approved by his family. We have been raising funds "in his name" to go toward helping others who have bravely served our country. If you are interested in making a donation in Ross' name... please email me at- stephaniewrightathome@yahoo.com or contact helpamericafoundation.org and be sure to mention SPC Ross A McGinnis' name. We only have a little ways to go to meet the family's goal of $10,000 in donations. If you wish to have one of these lanterns... please contact me. For a $5 donation... 100% of the gift goes toward Ross' Fund. Thank you for your support. February 13, 2007 Leslie Alexander Thank you for your sacrifice. You will never be forgotten. May your family know your country's gratitude, and may you rest in perfect happiness. Jan 3, 2006 Morgan Campbell Morganadaircampbell@yahoo.com My remembrance goes out to every solider. When I heard about SPC Ross McGinnis it hit me hard. Nothing has ever happen like this to someone this close to home. Being in the air force and getting ready to deploy myself, you want everyone to know how much you love them. Ross is a true hero for what he has done, by serving his country and saving his fellow solidiers. He is an example that everyone should follow. As the lantern we have purchased in memory of SPC Ross McGinnis says "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man down his life for his friends." Jan 1, 2007 Al Philo ,VP Friends of the Forgotten McBluesmanNEPA@hotmail.com What can one say, other than "Thank you for your service and sacrifice for your Country, and your fellow servicemen. You will not be forgotten. "Let's say a prayer to the Lord Above, that they'll all be home next year, and may the bells of piece ring out across the land". Quoted from Charlie Daniels. |
| Spc. Ross McGinnis was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony June 2, two weeks shy of what would have been his 21st birthday. |
