Obama to give soldier Medal of Honor
President Barack Obama is giving his first Medal of Honor to a soldier who sacrificed his life saving a comrade in Afghanistan.
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Obama plans to award the honor to Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti, who once served at Fort Bragg. His parents – Janet Monti, of Winterville, N.C., and John Monti, of Raynham, Mass. – will attend the ceremony in the East Room at the White House.
Monti will become the sixth servicemember to receive the Medal of Honor since Sept. 11, 2001.
The White House says Monti showed selfless service and sacrifice during combat. Monti was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade while trying to save a comrade in the Afghan mountains on June 21, 2006.
Monti served with the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Target Acquisition), 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry).
According to the U.S. Army's Medal of Honor Web site, Monti enlisted as a high school junior in 1993. He was deployed twice to Afghanistan and once to Kosovo. He was also stationed in the demilitarized zone between South and North Korea.
Monti was a native of Raynham, Mass. His other awards include a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, five Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals and three National Defense Service Medals.
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