Arab American Gets Navy Medal of Honor

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A question is often asked: Are Arab Americans doing enough for their country?
We are.
Today, the Navy held a meeting with community activists and leaders in the Lebanese Heritage Club in Dearborn to raise awareness of the Navy, to listen to community concerns and to talk about the upcoming navy Seal Fitness Challenge scheduled in Dearborn on May 10, 2008.
(To register for the Fitness event visit http://www.sealfitnesscahllenge.com/)

Today also was Petty Officer Mike Monsoor, an Arab American, posthumous Medal of Honor Ceremony at the White House. This medal was given to petty officer Monsoor who, while serving in Iraq, sacrificed his life to save his teammates.

There are many other Arab and Muslims American serving honorably in the US armed forces such as Ms Heather K. Charara, NCI (SW), Navy Representative in Charge, Westland, MI Recruiting Station.

Excerpts from the Navy Press release on the Medal of Honor Ceremony:

“Mike Monsoor exemplified the SEAL ethos,” said Rear Adm. Joseph Kernan, the Commander of the Naval Special Warfare Command in San Diego. “He led by example and protected his teammates to the very end. But more than that, Mike was a brother in our family. We will honor him every day by upholding the values he shared with us as SEALs.”
Monsoor is the first Navy SEAL to earn the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq and the second Navy SEAL to receive the award since Sept. 11, 2001. The other recipient, Lt. Michael P. Murphy, was recognized posthumously last October for his valor in combat alongside three other SEALs during a battle with Taliban forces in Afghanistan in 2005. Monsoor is the fifth armed forces service member to receive the Medal of Honor since the beginning of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

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