[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 22 (Monday, June 9, 2008)]
[Pages 776-778]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Presenting Posthumously the Congressional Medal of Honor to 
Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis

June 2, 2008

    Good morning. Welcome to the White House. A week ago, on Memorial 
Day, the flag of the United States flew in halfstaff in tribute to those 
who fell in service to our country. Today we pay special homage to one 
of those heroes: Private First Class Ross Andrew McGinnis of the United 
States Army. Private McGinnis died in a combat zone in Iraq on December 
the 4th, 2006, and for his heroism that day, he now receives the Medal 
of Honor.
    In a few moments, the Military Aide will read the citation, and the 
Medal will be accepted by Ross's mom and dad, Romayne and Tom. It's a 
privilege to have with us as well, Becky and Katie, Ross's sisters.
    I also want to thank the other distinguished guests who have joined 
us: Mr. Vice President; Secretary Jim Peake of Veterans Affairs; 
Secretary Pete Geren of the Army; Secretary Michael Wynne of the Air 
Force; General Jim ``Hoss'' Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs. I appreciate other members of the administration for joining us.
    I want to thank Members of the United States Congress who have 
joined us today: Steve Buyer, John Peterson, Louie Gohmert. Thank you 
all for coming. I appreciate the chaplain for the prayer. We welcome 
friends and family members of Ross, as well as members of the 1st 
Battalion, 26th Infantry, including Charlie Company, that's with us 
today.
    We're also joined by Private McGinnis's vehicle crew, the very men 
who witnessed his incredible bravery. We welcome Sergeant First Class 
Cedric Thomas, Staff Sergeant Ian Newland, Sergeant Lyle Buehler, and 
Specialist Sean Lawson.

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    A special welcome to the prior recipients of the Medal of Honor, 
whose presence here is--means a lot to the McGinnis family. Thank you 
for coming.
    The Medal of Honor is the Nation's highest military distinction. 
It's given for valor beyond anything that duty could require or a 
superior could command. By long tradition, it's presented by the 
President. For any President, doing so is a high privilege.
    Before he entered our country's history, Ross McGinnis came of age 
in the town of Knox, Pennsylvania. Back home, they remember a slender 
boy with a big heart and a carefree spirit. He was a regular guy. He 
loved playing basketball. He loved working on cards--cars. He wasn't too 
wild about schoolwork. [Laughter] He had a lot of friends and a great 
sense of humor. In high school and in the Army, Ross became known for 
his ability to do impersonations. A buddy from boot camp said that Ross 
was the only man there who could make the drill sergeant laugh. 
[Laughter]
    Most of all, those who knew Ross McGinnis recall him as a dependable 
friend and a really good guy. If Ross was your buddy and you needed help 
to--or you got in trouble, he'd stick with you and be the one you could 
count on. One of his friends told a reporter that Ross was the type who 
would do anything for anybody.
    That element of his character was to make all the difference when 
Ross McGinnis became a soldier in the Army. One afternoon 18 months ago, 
Private McGinnis was part of a Humvee patrol in a neighborhood of 
Baghdad. From his position in the gun turret, he noticed a grenade 
thrown directly at his vehicle. In an instant, the grenade dropped 
through the gunner's hatch. He shouted a warning to the four men inside. 
Confined in that tiny space, the soldiers had no chance of escaping the 
explosion. Private McGinnis could have easily jumped from the Humvee and 
saved himself. Instead, he dropped inside, put himself against the 
grenade, and absorbed the blast with his own body.
    By that split second decision, Private McGinnis lost his own life, 
and he saved his comrades. One of them was Platoon Sergeant Cedric 
Thomas, who said this: ``He had time to jump out of the truck. He chose 
not to. He's a hero. He was just an awesome guy.'' For his actions, 
Private McGinnis received the Silver Star, a posthumous promotion in 
rank, and a swift nomination for the Medal of Honor. But it wasn't 
acclaim or credit that motivated him. Ross's dad has said: ``I know 
medals never crossed his mind. He was always about friendships and 
relationships. He just took that to the ultimate this time.''
    When Ross McGinnis was in kindergarten, the teacher asked him to 
draw a picture of what he wanted to be when he grew up. He drew a 
soldier. Today our Nation recognizing--recognizes him as a soldier and 
more than that because he did far more than his duty. In the words of 
one of our commanding generals, ``Four men are alive because this 
soldier embodied our Army values and gave his life.''
    The day will come when the mission he served has been completed and 
the fighting's over and freedom and security have prevailed. America 
will never forget those who came forward to bear the battle. America 
will always honor the name of this brave soldier who gave all for his 
country and was taken to rest at age 19.
    No one outside this man's family can know the true weight of their 
loss. But in words spoken long ago, we are told how to measure the kind 
of devotion that Ross McGinnis showed on his last day: ``Greater love 
hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.''
    Gospel also gives this assurance: ``Blessed are they that mourn, for 
they shall be comforted.'' May the deep respect of our whole Nation be a 
comfort to the family of this fallen soldier. May God always watch over 
the country he served and keep us ever grateful for the life of Ross 
Andrew McGinnis.
    And now I'd like to invite Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis to please come 
forward for the presentation, and the Military Aide will read the 
citation for the Medal of Honor.

Note: The President spoke at 9:50 a.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Maj. Gen. Douglas L. Carver, USA, 
Chief of Army Chaplains. Following the President's remarks, Lt. Cmdr. 
Daniel Walsh, USCG, Coast Guard Aide to the President, read the 
citation.

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