Columbus in Muscogee County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Specialist Ross A. McGinnis
Photographed By Don Morfe, July 12, 2010
1. The Infantry Honors Marker
Inscription.
Specialist Ross A. McGinnis. .
The Infantry Honors Specialist Ross A. McGinnis 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Division Medal of Honor Operation Iraqi Freedom 14 June 2009. Specialist 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 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.
The Infantry Honors Specialist Ross A. McGinnis 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Division Medal of Honor Operation Iraqi Freedom 14 June 2009
Specialist 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 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
Click or scan to see this page online
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. Marker is in Columbus, Georgia, in Muscogee County. The Marker is on the outside wall, near the entrance to the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning GA. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1775 Legacy Way, Columbus GA 31903, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Ross McGinnis is buried in Arlington National Cemetery-Section 60, Site 8544
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 611 times since then and 12 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 Accra, Ghana. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
