Columbus in Muscogee County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Specialist Ross A. McGinnis

The Infantry Honors Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 12, 2010

1. The Infantry Honors Marker

Inscription. The Infantry Honors
Specialist Ross A. McGinnis
1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Division
Medal of Honor
Operation Iraqi Freedom
14 June 2009Specialist Ross A. McGinnis distinguished himself by acts of gallantry, and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy in Adhamiyah, Northeast Baghdad, Iraq, on 4 December 2006. On that day, his platoon was conducting combat control operations in an effort to reduce and control sectarian violence in the area. While Specialist McGinnis was manning his M2 .50-caliber Machine Gun, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner’s hatch into his 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, Specialist McGinnis made the courageous decision to protect his crew. In a selfless act of bravery in which he was mortally wounded, Specialist McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his boot and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion.

Specialist McGinnis gallant action directly saved four men

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from certain serious injury or death. Specialist 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, and the First Infantry Division “Big Red One”, and the United States Army. Specialist McGinnis trained to be an infantry soldier at Fort Benning, Georgia with the 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, 2nd Iraq. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 14, 2009.

Location. 32° 23.364′ N, 84° 57.312′ W. Memorial is in Columbus, Georgia, in Muscogee County. It is on South Lumpkin Road. The Marker is on the outside wall, near the entrance to the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning GA. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 1775 Legacy Way, Columbus GA 31903, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 12, 2010

2. The Infantry Honors Marker

Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Infantryman (here, next to this marker); POW ✯ MIA Monument (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); World Trade Center Beam Memorial (about 400 feet away); Dedicated to the American Revolutionary War Infantryman (about 600 feet away); The "Chattahoochee Choo Choo" (about 700 feet away); 32nd Infantry Regiment Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); 503d Infantry Regiment (Airborne) Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); The Creek Town of Cusseta (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 12, 2010

3. The Infantry Honors Marker

Photographed by Don Morfe, October 5, 2008

4. The Infantry Honors Marker

Ross McGinnis is buried in Arlington National Cemetery-Section 60, Site 8544

Specialist Ross A. McGinnis Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, December 23, 2017

5. Specialist Ross A. McGinnis Marker

The marker can be seen to the left of the entrance to the National Infantry Museum, to the left of the statue of "The Infantryman".

Credits. This page was last revised on August 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 15, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 894 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 15, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 5. submitted on January 20, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.