Toastburner B
09-16-2010, 02:36 AM
Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta is the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor in over 40 years. (http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/09/10/45000-white-house-to-award-medal-of-honor-to-first-oifoef-living-recipient/index.html)
Then-Spc. Salvatore A. Giunta distinguished himself by acts of gallantry at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifle team leader with Company B, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment during combat operations against an armed enemy in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan on October 25, 2007.
When an insurgent force ambush split Specialist Giunta's squad into two groups, he exposed himself to enemy fire to pull a comrade back to cover.
Later, while engaging the enemy and attempting to link up with the rest of his squad, Giunta noticed two insurgents carrying away a fellow soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy, killing one and wounding the other, and provided medical aid to his wounded comrade while the rest of his squad caught up and provided security.
His courage and leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his platoon's ability defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American paratrooper from enemy hands.
Staff Sgt. Giunta is the fourth soldier in Afghanistan to be awarded the Medal of Honor. The last person who was award the Medal while still living (as far as I can tell) was Fred Zabitosky in 1968.
I know the politics behind the wars in the Middle-East are divisive to say the least, but I thought this was a little bit of history that didn't deserve to go by unnoticed.
Then-Spc. Salvatore A. Giunta distinguished himself by acts of gallantry at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifle team leader with Company B, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment during combat operations against an armed enemy in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan on October 25, 2007.
When an insurgent force ambush split Specialist Giunta's squad into two groups, he exposed himself to enemy fire to pull a comrade back to cover.
Later, while engaging the enemy and attempting to link up with the rest of his squad, Giunta noticed two insurgents carrying away a fellow soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy, killing one and wounding the other, and provided medical aid to his wounded comrade while the rest of his squad caught up and provided security.
His courage and leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his platoon's ability defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American paratrooper from enemy hands.
Staff Sgt. Giunta is the fourth soldier in Afghanistan to be awarded the Medal of Honor. The last person who was award the Medal while still living (as far as I can tell) was Fred Zabitosky in 1968.
I know the politics behind the wars in the Middle-East are divisive to say the least, but I thought this was a little bit of history that didn't deserve to go by unnoticed.