Medal of Honor Monday: Army Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti

 Sept. 15, 2025 | By Katie Lange, Pentagon News |

In June 2006, high above a valley in Afghanistan, 16 soldiers on patrol valiantly tried to stave off a huge swarm of insurgents. It was on that ridge that Army Sgt. 1st Class Jared Christopher Monti gave his life while attempting to protect one of his comrades. That moment of courage and selflessness led him to receive a posthumous Medal of Honor.  

Monti was born Sept. 20, 1975, in Abington, Massachusetts, to Paul and Janet Monti. He had a sister, Nicole, and a brother, Timothy. 

When the family moved to nearby Raynham, Monti began to develop a sense of adventure and a love of sports, of which he played several. At Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School, he participated in triathlons and wrestled, even earning the under-17 New England weightlifting championship. He also volunteered with an after-school program for children at a local YMCA where his mother taught preschool.  

Monti was determined to join the Army, so in March 1993, he enlisted in the service's delayed entry program. He went to basic training between his junior and senior years of high school. After graduating in 1994, he went on active duty and became a fire support specialist, supporting intelligence and targeting in field artillery units. 

Over the next several years, Monti served twice in South Korea and trained as a paratrooper. In 1999, he went on a two-year deployment to Kosovo. During that time, he was injured in a parachute jump, but he refused to take a medical discharge and instead reenlisted.  

Monti was eventually assigned to the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York. In 2003, he deployed to Afghanistan with the division's 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. Before returning home, he received an Army Commendation Medal and a Bronze Star for his actions during an insurgent ambush.  

In February 2006, Monti returned to Afghanistan for a second deployment, this time with the division's 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. 

On June 21, 2006, Monti was serving as a team leader in the area of Gowardesh in northeastern Afghanistan, along the Pakistani border. Monti led a 16-man patrol with the goal of setting up a small base on a ridge to gather intelligence and direct fire against the enemy in support of a larger Army operation in the valley below.

Unfortunately, the larger operation was delayed, which caused Monti's team to run low on provisions and require aerial restocking. The helicopter that brought them supplies also revealed their position to insurgents. Soon after, their patrol was attacked by as many as 50 enemy fighters, who set up two positions about 50 yards above Monti's team on the ridge.  

It was clear to Monti that his team would soon be overrun, so he quickly directed his men to fire back from behind a rock formation that could shield them. He then called for indirect fire support on top of the enemy, which was closing in fast. He also fought off insurgents using his rifle and a grenade, successfully disrupting an attempt to flank his patrol.  

But then Monti saw Army Spc. Brian Bradbury lying severely wounded out in the open, and he knew he had to get to him. Another soldier said he would try to rescue Bradbury, but Monti ordered the soldier back, saying, "That's my guy. I'm going to get him." 

Twice, Monti disregarded his own safety to try and reach Bradbury. Both times, he was forced back by relentless enemy fire.  

On his third attempt, Monti was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. He tried to crawl back to cover but didn't quite make it. However, he was in earshot of his comrades, who said he told them that he'd made his peace with God, and to tell his family he loved them.  

A few minutes after Monti died, the air support he called in finally arrived, killing several insurgents and dispersing the rest, which saved the remaining members of his patrol.  

Unfortunately, Bradbury didn't survive. He died when a medevac's hoist broke as it tried to lift him into a helicopter. Two other patrol members, Army Staff Sgt. Patrick Lybert and Army Staff Sgt. Heathe Craig, also died during the 18-hour battle.  

Monti's body was eventually repatriated and buried in Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts.  

On Sept. 17, 2009, Monti's parents received the Medal of Honor on his behalf from President Barack Obama during a White House ceremony. He was the second service member to receive it for actions taken in Afghanistan.  

Monti has been remembered as a humble and giving man. His name adorns many landmarks and buildings, including in the military community. In 2009, a combat outpost in Afghanistan was renamed COP Monti. That same year, a bridge near his hometown was renamed the Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti Bridge. In the years that followed, a fitness center at Fort Drum and a training facility at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, were also named in his honor. 

In 2014, country musician Lee Brice put out a song titled "I Drive Your Truck" that was inspired by a radio feature in which Monti's father reminisced about his son and the truck he drove in remembrance of him. The song was named song of the year during the 49th annual Academy of Country Music Awards.  

This past April, the new Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti Soldier and Squad Research Facility at the Army Natick Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Massachusetts, was dedicated to him. Monti's sister, who spoke at the ceremony, said the family wasn't sure what to do with all his medals, uniforms and other military memorabilia until this opportunity arose.  

"We wanted them to go where we knew they'd be honored," Nicole Monti-Alicea told the crowd during the dedication. "After our meeting, we knew that Jared's highest honors belonged here … and my mother finally got the one thing she always wanted — for her son to finally rest in peace."   

During the ceremony, Brice performed an acoustic version of his award-winning song for the crowd, using Monti's actual pickup truck as a backdrop for the touching tribute.  

Honoring Heroism: Medal of Honor Recipients of the Korean War

The Korean War, often referred to as the "Forgotten War," holds a significant place in history as a conflict that tested the resolve of nations and showcased the extraordinary bravery of individuals. Amid the challenges of this war, many remarkable acts of valor and heroism took place on the battlefield. The Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration, was bestowed upon numerous individuals who exhibited extraordinary courage and selflessness during the Korean War. Let's take a moment to honor some of these recipients and their incredible feats.

Corporal Tibor Rubin (April 28, 1929 – December 5, 2015) Corporal Rubin, born in Hungary, displayed immense valor while serving as a rifleman during the Korean War. He was captured by Chinese forces but managed to escape and joined American and UN forces as a guerrilla fighter. Rubin was recognized for his exceptional dedication and saved the lives of countless fellow prisoners by diverting enemy fire. He was finally awarded the Medal of Honor in 2005, decades after his heroic actions.

Lieutenant Colonel Don C. Faith Jr. (August 31, 1920 – December 2, 1950) Lieutenant Colonel Faith, commander of the 32nd Infantry Regiment, exhibited extraordinary leadership and courage during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Despite overwhelming odds and being heavily outnumbered, he led his men in defending Hill 902. Faith's bravery and sacrifice inspired his troops to hold their ground, ultimately enabling others to withdraw safely. Tragically, he lost his life during the battle, but his legacy of unwavering leadership lives on.

Private First Class William R. Charette (March 29, 1932 – March 18, 2012) Private First Class Charette, a Navy corpsman attached to the Marine Corps, displayed unparalleled courage in the face of danger. Despite being wounded himself, he repeatedly risked his life to provide medical aid to wounded Marines. His selflessness and determination to save lives earned him the Medal of Honor and the eternal gratitude of those he served alongside.

Master Sergeant Woodrow W. Keeble (May 16, 1917 – January 28, 1982) Master Sergeant Keeble, a Dakota Sioux Native American, exemplified bravery during the Korean War. Despite being wounded, he led his platoon in a critical assault on enemy positions. He single-handedly silenced two machine gun bunkers and killed several enemy soldiers. His actions saved countless lives and paved the way for his platoon's success. Keeble's Medal of Honor was posthumously awarded in 2008.

Private Hector A. Cafferata Jr. (November 4, 1929 – April 12, 2016) Private Cafferata's valorous actions during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir earned him the Medal of Honor. Despite being wounded, he held his position and defended against waves of enemy attacks. His bravery inspired his comrades, and his unwavering determination ensured the safety of his fellow Marines.

These are just a few of the many individuals whose actions during the Korean War epitomized courage, honor, and sacrifice. Their stories serve as a reminder of the immense sacrifices made by servicemen and women to defend freedom and protect their fellow soldiers. As we reflect on their heroism, let us ensure that their legacy is never forgotten, and let their valor continue to inspire future generations.

Recon Shares Stories of Conspicuous Courage

By David Mays
Special to American Forces Press Service

April 12, 2007 – It was supposed to be a routine security patrol in Mosul, Iraq, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, 2005. Army Pfc. Stephen Sanford and his fellow soldiers of the Company C, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, planned to arrest suspected insurgents, take them back to the detention center and "relax, stretch out a bit." Instead, squad members would find themselves in an intense firefight.

"There was just this massive explosion," Sanford said. "You could see flashes and automatic weapons fire. It was sensory overload. It was incredibly loud. You could smell the gunpowder and the blood and the dust and dirt. My weapon started getting warm because I was firing so much. I mean, I still didn't know what was going on."

Meanwhile, nine members of a lead team that had gone inside a home ahead of Sanford were pinned down by enemy fire and trapped inside the kitchen. Sanford's team evacuated the first unit, but the last soldier out of the house had been shot and lay helpless on the exposed street.

"I tried to stop his bleeding," Sanford said. "I didn't notice at the time I had run into a perfect line of sight for one of their snipers, and I was taking hits, and there were rounds bouncing off the pavement. I got hit, and I started bleeding out pretty bad."

Nonetheless, Sanford continued trying to revive his fellow soldier, returned fire, shooting and killing an enemy, and continued CPR until he passed out from his own blood loss. "I was just so focused on my chance to duke it out with a bunch of bad guys that I didn't notice," he said.

For his actions under fire, Sanford was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Marine Gen. Peter Pace, who traveled to Alaska to perform the ceremony. "As he was pinning the medal on, his hands kinda shook a little bit, and he said 'Sorry, this is the first time I've given one of these out.' I said, 'Don't worry General, it's my first one too.'"

Sanford's incredible firsthand story and those of other servicemembers who have been awarded some of the country's highest military honors are told in a brand new edition of the Pentagon Channel documentary "Recon."

"They all say they're not really heroes, they were just doing their jobs," said Air Force Master Sgt. Daniela Marchus, the show's host, "but they all faced the intensity of combat and performed with conspicuous courage."

Army Sgt. Tommy Rieman's path to demonstrating conspicuous courage began as part of a small Army reconnaissance team that traveled hundreds of miles behind enemy lines before Operation Iraqi Freedom even began. The unit's task was to scout positions of Saddam Hussein's loyalists and pinpoint locations for close air strikes. Rieman and his team survived that extraordinarily dangerous mission unscathed. It was months later, after fighting seemed to have ended, that the calm was suddenly shattered.

"It was Dec. 3, 2003," Rieman said. "Enroute we got hit with three (rocket-propelled grenades), three (improvised explosive devices), and a hail of small-arms fire. While we were being fired upon, we returned fire, and I used my body as a shield to protect my gunner. He was on the .50-caliber machine gun, we had to keep the gun going, so I just knew he needed to be the most protected."

Rieman was shot in his arm and chest and suffered 11 shrapnel wounds. But the harrowing experience was far from over.

"We reacted, fought through the first ambush, told my guys to get out. We made a left turn to the next road. We pulled up. We basically put ourselves in another ambush with a smaller enemy force," Rieman said. "We returned fire. I lobbed two or three rounds down range. In total, myself was wounded, my gunner was shot in the buttocks, and Sergeant Bruce Robinson was in the rear vehicle. He lost his right leg to an RPG."

Rieman was awarded a Silver Star for his actions. He is also featured in a downloadable interactive video game called "America's Army: Real Heroes," which is based on Army values and training and gives citizens an opportunity to learn more about the role of today's soldiers.

"And later on they said, 'how about we make you an action figure?' Who's going to object to that, you know? So here I am, immortalized forever virtually and in plastic," Rieman said.

"Conspicuous Courage" also recounts in vivid detail the furious and now famous 40-minute firefight that ensued when a Kentucky National Guard military police company convoy came under massive enemy attack March 20, 2005, in Iraq.

"I can still see rounds just kicking up all around me," said Staff Sgt. Timothy Nein, who was in the lead vehicle that day. "I throw a grenade up onto the berm. It explodes. I take a couple steps back, begin to run. It's almost a vertical face. As I'm crawling up, I think the guy's either gonna shoot me in the face or I'm gonna get hit in the back by rounds, cause I can see them kicking up all around me."

For his actions, Nein would eventually receive the Distinguished Service Cross, the first to be awarded to a National Guard member since World War II.

Army Sgt. Leigh Anne Hester would be the first woman since World War II to be awarded the Silver Star for her actions defending the embattled convoy from enemy attackers.

"It was just instinct to get in there and eliminate them by any means we could," she said. "Firing my M4, firing my M203 grenade launcher or throwing hand grenades."

When the fight ended, 27 insurgents were dead. Everyone in the 617th Military Police Company survived. The squad member also received a medal of valor for their role in defending the convoy that day.

Army Lt. Gen. John Vines presented those awards during a ceremony at Camp Liberty, Iraqm on June 16, 2005. His comments that day sum up the qualities found in each servicemember featured in this latest "Recon" documentary. "My heroes don't play in the NBA or in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst," Vines said. "They're standing in front of me here today. These are American heroes."

"Conspicuous Courage" debuts Friday, April 13th, at noon EDT and will encore over the next four weeks. It also will be available via podcast and video on demand at www.pentagonchannel.mil.

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