Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. -John 15:13
I've struggled for the last few days to figure out what to put in this post. I never met SGT Jared Monti so I don't feel that I can accurately pay tribute to who he was and what he did - but want to try.
Erik met and served with SGT Monti in 3-71CAV when he was at Ft. Drum. Even before they deployed I knew who SGT Monti was, and on the day I read of his death in Afghanistan, I thought I knew what a soldier the Army had lost. But as days went on and more information about SGT Monti's bravery and who he was became available, I realized what kind of a person the world had lost.
We were honored to meet Paul Monti, Jared's father, when he attended our wedding shortly after 3-71 returned from Afghanistan. Admittedly it was very difficult for us (and I'm certain even more so for him), but I know that we will never forget it. Nor will we forget his son who, it was announced yesterday, will be receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Soldier gets highest honor for ultimate sacrifice
Army Sgt. Jared C. Monti of Raynham has been posthumously named to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor this week for giving his life as he tried to rescue wounded comrades under heavy fire in Afghanistan in 2006.
The humble soldier never liked medals, his proud father, Paul Monti, recalled yesterday. The ones he earned when he was alive, he just tucked in a drawer. It was the way he dealt with many of his exemplary actions in life, his dad said - he didn’t feel he needed to show off about the good things he was doing.
Jared Monti, a 1994 Bridgewater-Raynham High School graduate, was the son of Paul Monti of Raynham and Janet Monti of Winterville, N.C. Just 30 when he was killed, he “was extremely selfless.
“He spent most of his life doing things for other people, even when young,” his father said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Monti received a telephone call from President Obama informing him that his beloved son has been named as a recipient of the Medal of Honor. It will be awarded in a ceremony at the White House in the fall.
“The president told me that he was very proud of him, that the nation was very proud of him and that I should be proud of him,” Monti said. He described the conversation as emotional and “bittersweet.”
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.
this is me, crying. Again.
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