Ross A McGinnis, PFC

SPC Ross A. McGinnis

Hometown: Knox, Pennsylvania

Enlisted: Delayed Entry Program June 14, 2004 at the Pittsburgh MEPS. Completed initial entry training at Fort Benning, Georgia

Assignments: 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment (Schweinfurt, Germany)

Deployments: Operation Iraqi Freedom

Awards

1. Medal of Honor
2. Bronze Star
3. Purple Heart
4. Army Good Conduct Medal
5. National Defense Service Medal
6. Iraq Campaign Medal
7. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,
8. Army Service Ribbon
9. Overseas Service Ribbon
10. Combat Infantryman Badge

Medal of Honor Citation

Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis

United States Army

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an M2 .50-caliber Machine Gunner, 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Adhamiyah, Northeast Baghdad, Iraq, on 4 December 2006.

That afternoon his platoon was conducting combat control operations in an effort to reduce and control sectarian violence in the area. While Private McGinnis was manning the M2 .50-caliber Machine Gun, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner's hatch into the vehicle. Reacting quickly, he yelled "grenade," allowing all four members of his crew to prepare for the grenade's blast. Then, rather than leaping from the gunner's hatch to safety, Private McGinnis made the courageous decision to protect his crew. In a selfless act of bravery, in which he was mortally wounded, Private McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion.

Private McGinnis' gallant action directly saved four men from certain serious injury or death. Private First Class McGinnis' extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.