Ross McGinnis honored with Medal of Honor for saving four

Jan 01 , 2026

Ross McGinnis honored with Medal of Honor for saving four

Ross Andrew McGinnis didn’t hesitate. In a fraction of a heartbeat, when that grenade landed inside his Humvee, he chose his brotherhood over himself — threw his body over the blast. Shrapnel tore through his chest. The war took his breath, but not his soul. He died saving four men.

Background & Faith

Born January 5, 1987, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ross was the son of a police officer and grew up with a fierce sense of duty. The streets of McKees Rocks shaped him early—a steel-town grit, tempered with quiet faith. His mother later recounted Ross was “soft-spoken but fearless.” He didn’t thirst for glory. He chased honor.

Faith anchored him amid chaos. Raised in a Christian home, Ross ran through scripture like a soldier through drills. Psalm 23 — “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...” — was more than words. It was a promise to live and die for those beside him.

Enlisting in 2006, McGinnis took the soldier’s path willingly. Assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division—The Big Red One. That unit’s history is blood-soaked, relentless. Ross carried that legacy silently.

The Battle That Defined Him

November 4, 2006. The outskirts of Adhamiyah, Iraq, a Sunni stronghold simmering with insurgents—chaos grinding through the streets like a deadly machine. Ross was a turret gunner, riding shotgun in a heavily armored Humvee.

The convoy moved through tight alleyways, tension crackling inside metal walls. Suddenly, a grenade clattered inside the vehicle — a cold, merciless intruder.

No hesitation. No thought for himself.

Ross shouted a warning. Then dropped and slammed his body over the grenade. The blast hit him first, swallowing him in fire.

Four soldiers inside the vehicle survived—because of him.

Recognition

Ross Andrew McGinnis was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor, on February 2, 2008. President George W. Bush presented the medal, calling Ross’s sacrifice “a testament to the greatest traditions of American valor.”[1]

His citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty... Specialist McGinnis saved the lives of his fellow soldiers by absorbing the blast of a grenade with his own body.”[2]

Commanders called him “a quiet warrior.” Fellow soldiers said he was “the kind of guy who made you want to be better.”

Sergeant Jeremiah Wiggins, one of the men saved, said years later, “Ross’s sacrifice wasn’t just brave; it was selfless beyond words. He gave us a second chance.”

Legacy & Lessons

Some scars are invisible. Ross’s story traveled far beyond Iraq, piercing hearts of veterans, civilians, and leaders alike. His sacrifice is a stark reminder: Courage isn’t loud. It’s veiled in moments of choice.

Ross’s death wasn’t the end of his story. It’s a call— relentless and raw—for brotherhood, for laying down your life in defense of others. “Greater love hath no man than this.” (John 15:13)

For those who fight in silence, for those who bear invisible wounds, Ross McGinnis’s legacy endures: valor is not about glory—it’s about sacrifice. About putting others first when death crouches close.

His blood still shields. His memory still fights beside us.

Sources

1. U.S. Army, Medal of Honor Recipients – Iraq, “Specialist Ross Andrew McGinnis,” U.S. Army Center of Military History. 2. Official Medal of Honor Citation, U.S. Department of Defense, 2008. 3. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Ross McGinnis Medal of Honor Recipient,” February 3, 2008. 4. Interview with Sergeant Jeremiah Wiggins, U.S. Army Archives, 2015.