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Medal of Honor recipients in Iraq and Afghanistan

The Rocky

Published September 20, 2008 at 3:19 p.m.

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Cp. Jason L. Dunham, with mom Debra

Photo by / Special to the Rocky

Cp. Jason L. Dunham, with mom Debra

Pfc. Ross A. McGinniss

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Pfc. Ross A. McGinniss

Master-at-arms, 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor

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Master-at-arms, 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor

Lt. Michael P. Murphy

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Lt. Michael P. Murphy

Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith

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Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith

Navy Petty Officer Danny P. Dietz

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Navy Petty Officer Danny P. Dietz

Army Chief Warrant Officer Robert C. Hammett

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Army Chief Warrant Officer Robert C. Hammett

Medal of Honor recipients -- Iraq and Afghanistan

* Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, U.S. Marines, 22, Scio, N.Y. On April 14, 2004, Cpl. Dunham shielded fellow Marines from death near Husaybah, Iraq, by falling upon an insurgent hand grenade. He died eight days later in Bethesda, Md. He was the first Marine recipient since Vietnam.

* Pfc. Ross A. McGinniss, U.S. Army, 19, Knox, Pa. On Dec. 4, 2006, McGinniss smothered an Iraqi insurgent's grenade inside an Army Humvee in Baghdad. His four comrades escaped; he died. His Silver Star was upgraded after a Pentagon review.

* Master-at-arms, 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, U.S. Navy, 25, Garden Grove, Calif. On Sept. 29, 2006, Navy SEAL Monsoor covered an enemy hand grenade that had struck him in the chest at Ar Ramadi, Iraq, giving his life while saving the lives of two SEAL teammates.

* Lt. Michael P. Murphy, U.S. Navy, 29, Patchogue, N.Y. On June 28, 2005, east of Asadabad in Afghanistan's Kunar Province, Navy SEAL Murphy and his four-man team were surrounded by more than 50 insurgents. He fought to the death while trying to communicate the unit's position to headquarters.

* Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith. U.S. Army, 33, Tampa, Fla. On April 4, 2003, near Baghdad International Airport, Smith, a 13-year Army veteran, manned a .50-caliber machine gun and held off an enemy force of more than 100 while numerous American wounded were evacuated from the battlefield. He was killed by enemy fire. On April 4, 2005, he became the first Iraq war Medal of Honor recipient.

Decorated with Colorado ties

* Navy Petty Officer Danny P. Dietz, of Littleton, was killed in Afghanistan's Kunar Province on July 4, 2005, during a Navy SEAL search and rescue operation. The 25-year-old was awarded the Navy Cross, which ranks just below the Medal of Honor.

* Army Chief Warrant Officer Robert C. Hammett, 39, was killed June 24 by a bomb while meeting with local leaders in Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood. The Fort Carson-based soldier was decorated with three Bronze Stars.