IT WAS THE spring of 2006 and I was embedded as a photojournalist in the meanest part of the meanest city in Iraq — Ramadi. Here the bad guys ruled. Leaving your base camp virtually guaranteed a fight. I got one the first day. When shots rang out, I jumped into the street and started snapping away. I looked back and saw a tall Navy SEAL seemingly pointing his MK48 medium machine gun right at me.
In fact, he was protecting me and his teammates. Strange that I would never have learned his name if six months later he hadn’t sacrificed all to save those other men. Tuesday I looked on as Navy Master-at Arms 2nd Class Michael Monsoor received the nation’s highest award — the Medal of Honor.
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