| | '''Ross Andrew McGinnis''' (June 14, 1987 - December 4, 2006) is a recipient of the highest [[military]] decoration for wartime valor, the [[Medal of Honor]]. He was born in Meadville, [[Pennsylvania]], and at the age of three he and his family moved to Knox, PA, where he grew up. McGinnis attended Clarion County public schools, and was a member of the [[Boy Scouts of America|Boy Scouts]], a member of the St. Paul’s [[Lutheran Church]], and a 2005 graduate of Keystone Junior-Senior [[High School]].<ref name=mil>Medal of Honor. [http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/mcginnis/profile/index.html The Story of SPC Ross A. McGinnis], ''Army.Mil Features''.</ref> | | '''Ross Andrew McGinnis''' (June 14, 1987 - December 4, 2006) is a recipient of the highest [[military]] decoration for wartime valor, the [[Medal of Honor]]. He was born in Meadville, [[Pennsylvania]], and at the age of three he and his family moved to Knox, PA, where he grew up. McGinnis attended Clarion County public schools, and was a member of the [[Boy Scouts of America|Boy Scouts]], a member of the St. Paul’s [[Lutheran Church]], and a 2005 graduate of Keystone Junior-Senior [[High School]].<ref name=mil>Medal of Honor. [http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/mcginnis/profile/index.html The Story of SPC Ross A. McGinnis], ''Army.Mil Features''.</ref> |
| − | McGinnis enlisted in the [[U.S. Army]] on his 17th birthday in Pittsburgh through the Delayed Entry Program. On June 8, 2005, he left Pennsylvania for eight weeks of basic training at Fort Benning, [[Georgia]], followed by another six weeks of Advanced Infantry Training; he graduated in October 2005. McGinnis was then assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team 1st Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, [[Germany]]. He was deployed to [[Iraq]] in July 2006, supporting [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]].<ref name=DoD>DoD. [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/ramcginnis.htm Ross Andrew McGinnis], ''Arlington National Cemetery Website''.</ref> According to the official report, on the afternoon of Dec. 4, 2006, Ross McGinnis threw himself on a [[grenade]] in [[Iraq]]; he died from wounds received upon his heroic actions that saved the lives of four fellow soldiers.<ref name=mil/> | + | McGinnis enlisted in the [[U.S. Army]] on his 17th birthday in Pittsburgh through the Delayed Entry Program. On June 8, 2005, he left Pennsylvania for eight weeks of basic training at Fort Benning, [[Georgia]], followed by another six weeks of Advanced Infantry Training; he graduated in October 2005. McGinnis was then assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team 1st Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, [[Germany]]. He was deployed to [[Iraq]] in July 2006, supporting [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]].<ref name=DoD>DoD. [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/ramcginnis.htm Ross Andrew McGinnis], ''[[Arlington National Cemetery]] Website''.</ref> According to the official report, on the afternoon of Dec. 4, 2006, Ross McGinnis threw himself on a [[grenade]] in [[Iraq]]; he died from wounds received upon his heroic actions that saved the lives of four fellow soldiers.<ref name=mil/> |