On June 21, 2006, during a heavy firefight in Gowardesh, Afghanistan, Jared Monti dragged one wounded soldier to safety under fire. He went back to get another critically wounded soldier and was killed by a grenade in the process.

Monti recalled his son’s quiet, giving spirit, never wanting any recognition for the often surprising things he did.

At 17, Jared asked to cut down a spruce tree from their yard, because a local family wasn’t going to have a Christmas tree.

Then, “he bought them ornaments, presents, Christmas dinner, and he never told anyone,” his father said.

Only five other Medals of Honor have been awarded since 9/11.

“I would rather have him back than all the medals,” Mont...

On June 21, 2006, during a heavy firefight in Gowardesh, Afghanistan, Jared Monti dragged one wounded soldier to safety under fire. He went back to get another critically wounded soldier and was killed by a grenade in the process.

Monti recalled his son’s quiet, giving spirit, never wanting any recognition for the often surprising things he did.

At 17, Jared asked to cut down a spruce tree from their yard, because a local family wasn’t going to have a Christmas tree.

Then, “he bought them ornaments, presents, Christmas dinner, and he never told anyone,” his father said.

Only five other Medals of Honor have been awarded since 9/11.

“I would rather have him back than all the medals,” Monti said. “But it’s fitting that (Jared) should be recognized for his act.”

He said his son, whose dream was to serve in the military and then become a history teacher, “would be appalled” by the attention he is receiving now.

“(Jared) would say, `Dad, I was just doing my job,’ ” he said.

Rest in peace, Jared Monti, and thank you. Your actions are an inspiration, and most of us can only hope to have a fraction of your courage and selflessness.

Stop reading here if you are satisfied with the example of Monti’s courage and selflessness, and aren’t interested in the particulars of media coverage or the politics of the matter.

The Associated Press article on today’s ceremony at the White House is excerpted below. I’m sure the reporter and editors meant well, and I hate to engage in media criticism when it comes to a matter like this. But reading the wire copy tonight, it struck me as unnecessary and even offensive that, in an article about a fallen American hero’s day in the national spotlight, the Associated Press felt the need to highlight the president to the extent that the slain soldier was upstaged. Specifically, by beginning each of the first five paragraphs with either with a reference to President Barack Obama or with one of his utterances, with two references to the pres

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama today praised a U.S. soldier who three times left cover for an attempted rescue while Taliban bullets and grenades rained around him, ultimately losing his own life while trying to save his comrade on an Afghan battlefield.


A somber Obama, standing just feet from Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti’s parents, told a White House audience that the 30-year-old soldier’s sacrifice should give Americans pause when they throw around words such as duty, honor, sacrifice and heroism.

“Do we really grasp the meaning of these values? Do we truly understand the nature of these virtues, to serve and to sacrifice?” Obama asked. “Jared Monti knew. The Monti family...

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama today praised a U.S. soldier who three times left cover for an attempted rescue while Taliban bullets and grenades rained around him, ultimately losing his own life while trying to save his comrade on an Afghan battlefield.


A somber Obama, standing just feet from Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti’s parents, told a White House audience that the 30-year-old soldier’s sacrifice should give Americans pause when they throw around words such as duty, honor, sacrifice and heroism.

“Do we really grasp the meaning of these values? Do we truly understand the nature of these virtues, to serve and to sacrifice?” Obama asked. “Jared Monti knew. The Monti family knows. And they know that the actions we honor today were not a passing moment of courage. They were the culmination of a life of character and commitment.”

Presenting his first Medal of Honor, Obama lavished praise on the soldier from Raynham, Mass., who was leading a scouting mission along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan when a helicopter deployed to resupply the patrol blew their cover. Taliban fighters converged, and Monti called for backup.

With vivid details, the president told the story of 16 soldiers who were surrounded and outnumbered by insurgents yet kept their position until backup arrived.