Mike Monsoor PO2, U.S. Navy

Petty Officer PO2
(Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Second Class)


April 5, 1981 ~ September 29, 2009


He was awarded "The Congressional Medal Of Honor" for giving his life in Iraq as he jumped on, and covered with his body, a live hand grenade, saving the lives of a large group of Navy Seals that was passing by!


During Mike Monsoor's funeral at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California, the six pallbearers removed the rosewood casket from the hearse,
and lined up on each side of Monsoor's casket were his family members, friends, fellow sailors, and well-wishers. The column of people continued from the hearse, all the way to the grave site.


What the group didn't know at the time was, every Navy Seal (45 to be exact) that Mike saved that day was scattered throughout the column!


As the pallbearers carried the rosewood casket down the column of people to the grave site, the column would collapse which formed a group of people that followed behind.


Every time the rosewood casket passed a Navy Seal, he would remove his Gold Trident Pin from his uniform, and slap it down hard, causing the Gold Trident Pin to be embed into the top of the wooden casket! Then the Navy Seal would step back from the column and salute! It was said that you could hear each of the 45 slaps from aross the cemetery.


Now for those who don't know what a Trident Pin is, here is the definition!


After one completes the Basic Navy Seals Program which lasts for three weeks, this is followed by Seal Qualification Training which is 15 more weeks of training. This is necessary to continue improving basic skills and to learn new tactics and techniques, required for an assignment to a Navy Seal Platoon.


After successful completion, trainees are given their Naval Enlisted Code, and are awarded the Navy Seal Trident Pin. With this gold pin they are now officially Navy Seals!


By the time the rosewood casket reached the grave site, it looked as though it had a gold inlay from the 45 Trident Pins that lined the top!


This was a fitting end to an eternal send-off for a warrior hero!



~