
The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*Monti, Jared C.
Rank and organization:
Sergeant First Class [then Staff Sergeant], U.S. Army, Headquarters and
Headquarters Troop, 3d Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat
Team, 10th Mountain Division. Place
and Date: Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, 21 June 2006.
Entered Service at: Raynham, Massachusetts.
Born: 20 September 1975, Abington, Massachusetts.
Citation:
Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti distinguished
himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of
duty while serving as a team leader with Headquarters and Headquarters
Troop, 3d Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division, in connection with combat operations against an enemy
in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, on 21 June 2006. While Sergeant First
Class Monti was leading a mission aimed at gathering intelligence and
directing fire against the enemy, his 16-man patrol was attacked by as
many as 50 enemy fighters. On the verge of being overrun, Sergeant First
Class Monti quickly directed his men to set up a defensive position behind
a rock formation. He then called for indirect fire support, accurately
targeting the rounds upon the enemy who had closed to within 50 meters of
his position. While still directing fire, Sergeant First Class Monti
personally engaged the enemy with his rifle and grenade, successfully
disrupting an attempt to flank his patrol. Sergeant First Class Monti then
realized that one of his soldiers was lying wounded in the open ground
between the advancing enemy and the patrol's position. With complete
disregard for his own safety, Sergeant First Class Monti twice attempted
to move from behind the cover of the rocks into the face of relentless
enemy fire to rescue his fallen comrade. Determined not to leave his
soldier, Sergeant First Class Monti made a third attempt to cross open
terrain through intense enemy fire. On this final attempt, he was mortally
wounded, sacrificing his own life in an effort to save his fellow soldier.
Sergeant First Class Monti's selfless acts of heroism inspired his patrol
to fight off the larger enemy force. Sergeant First Class Monti's
immeasurable courage and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest
traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself,
Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3d Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment,
3d Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, and the United States
Army.
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