See You on The High Ground

by Len Sandler

Deliberately exposing himself to machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire, Jared Monti sacrificed himself attempting not once but three times to rescue one of his squad members from the "kill zone" after his patrol came under attack by insurgents on a mountain in Afghanistan.  He declared, "He's my guy.  I'm going to get him."  In doing so, Jared was able to draw fire away from the rest of the American soldiers and buy time for air support to arrive.  After suffering a direct hit from an RPG, the 30-year-old SFC recited the "Lord's Prayer" as he lay dying.  His last words were, "I've made peace with God.  Tell my family I love them."
   
"I've come to the conclusion, and it's the only way I can deal with it, that it was his destiny.  This is what he was meant to do," confesses his mother Janet. 
   
His father, my childhood friend Paul, has been unable to throw out anything of his son's.  His house is crowded with boxes of Jared's personal belongings and he continues to drive his Dodge Ram truck.  Songwriter Connie Harrington heard a radio interview with Paul which  inspired "I Drive Your Truck" which became the #1 country song in America and was named "Song of the Year" at both the 2013 CMA and 2014 ACM Awards shows and given the first annual Golden Boot Award as 2014 "Song of the Year."
   
"The actions we honor today were not a passing moment of courage.  They were the culmination of a life of character and commitment," said Barack Obama as he posthumously presented Jared with the first Medal of Honor of his presidency on September 17, 2009.  Jared died a heroic death but, more importantly, lived a heroic life.  This is the story of that life.

338 pages, Paperback

First published December 13, 2014

Reviews

[Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a roller coaster of emotions. There were times that I had to stop reading because I couldn't see the pages. Having lived in the Taunton/Bridgewater/Raynham area until 2001 I knew pretty much all the local places that were mentioned. My son went to BR and still lives in Raynham. He told me the other day that he still goes by the Monti house when he goes to pick up his mail.
Jared Monti was loved and respected by everyone he came in contact with. He was no angel, but he drove himself to be the best that he could be.

[Elaine Lucky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a lot of military books & this book was not well written. The common phrases used throughout it were: according to, recalls, thought, remembers, thinks, maintains, confesses... Loads of needless information and most of the book's stories were taken from online posts from Jared's facebook page and memorial pages. The 1st chapters of the book are "To understand who Jared Monti was, you have to understand from whom he came." Thus long chapters and family trees starting with the great grandparents up to when the publishing of the book. Loads of needless information describing towns where everyone was born, aunts, cousins, teachers, & family friends. Apparently his men all loved him and he was a practical joker & drinker. Not a very detailed account of the battle and more about people waxing poetic about how Jared was a great guy and his jokes and hazings he performed. The last part of the book was detailed about all of the medals he won and a history lesson on how they came about. Also got political about how great the Obama's were. Not worth the time. Just go to the memorial page.

[Frank S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book