WASHINGTON — Three retired Army four-star generals were on hand Friday night to help honor Medal of Honor recipient Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Michael Monsoor at the annual awards dinner of the American Task Force for Lebanon.

Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was killed in Iraq in 2006, was — like former CENTCOM commander Gen. John Abizaid, former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, Gen. George Joulwan and former Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Cody — of Lebanese descent. His Medal of Honor citation noted that he died after he threw himself on an insurgent's hand grenade to protect his two teammates during fighting at Ar Ramadi.

Cody was also honored at the event, receiving the Philip C. Habib Award for Distinguished Public Service. Abizaid and Joulwan are previous recipients of the award.

The American Task Force for Lebanon is, according to its Web site, "comprised primarily of prominent and dedicated Americans of Lebanese heritage who share a common interest in Lebanon and the goals of the organization. The unifying goal is to work towards reestablishing a secure, stable, independent, and sovereign Lebanon with full control over all its territory."

Migrated