Rare Honor for a Living Service Member

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NY Times:
Rare Honor for a Living Service Member
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WASHINGTON — In an emotional ceremony, President Obama on Tuesday awarded the Medal of Honor to an Army staff sergeant who placed himself in the line of fire in Afghanistan to try to save his squad mates and to protect and comfort a dying American soldier.
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The young staff sergeant, Salvatore A. Giunta, now 25, of Hiawatha, Iowa, was an Army specialist when he took part in the firefight in eastern Afghanistan three years ago. He is the first living service member to receive the Medal of Honor, the military’s most prestigious award, for action in any war since Vietnam.
Sergeant Giunta and the other soldiers of Company B, Second Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, were part of a campaign to provide food, winter clothing and medical care to Afghans in remote villages. They were ambushed in the Korengal Valley in a coordinated attack from three sides.
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This happened on Tuesday but I say I didn’t see any mention of it on any news until SSgt Giunta was on Stephen Colbert tonight.
God bless him and all our forces.
 
Maybe people didn’t post because it’s good news I don’t know?

Anyway Bro I posted it here on CAF four days ago:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=512851

WASHINGTON – President Obama will present Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta with the Medal of Honor on Tuesday, awarding the soldier for his courageous actions during combat operations in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan in October 2007.

Giunta’s wife, Jennifer, and his parents, Steven and Rosemary Giunta, will join the president and first lady Michelle Obama in the East Room to commemorate Giunta’s example of selfless service in what is the first Medal of Honor award to be presented to a living soldier since the Vietnam War.
foxnews.com/politics/2010…an/?test=faces
 
25 years of age. What a hero!

He said he’d give it back in a second, to have them back.

Fickle world we live in. His job is not yet done.

A real man.

God Bless our Military men & women.

God Bless you.
+Jesus, I Trust In You!
Love, Dawn
 
Wow. I have nothing but admiration for him. Good for him that he got this honor:D
 
**The Medal Of Honor **

Citation For Salvatore Giunta

*The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded, in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor to Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta, United States Army. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: *

*Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, on October 25, 2007. *

*While conducting a patrol as team leader with Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, Specialist Giunta and his team were navigating through harsh terrain when they were ambushed by a well-armed and well-coordinated insurgent force. While under heavy enemy fire, Specialist Giunta immediately sprinted towards cover and engaged the enemy. Seeing that his squad leader had fallen and believing that he had been injured, Specialist Giunta exposed himself to withering enemy fire and raced towards his squad leader, helped him to cover, and administered medical aid. While administering first aid, enemy fire struck Specialist Giunta’s body armor and his secondary weapon. *

*Without regard to the ongoing fire, Specialist Giunta engaged the enemy before prepping and throwing grenades, using the explosions for cover in order to conceal his position. Attempting to reach additional wounded fellow soldiers who were separated from the squad, Specialist Giunta and his team encountered a barrage of enemy fire that forced them to the ground. The team continued forward and upon reaching the wounded soldiers, Specialist Giunta realized that another soldier was still separated from the element. **Specialist Giunta then advanced forward on his own initiative. As he crested the top of a hill, he observed two insurgents carrying away an American soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy, killing one and wounding the other. Upon reaching the wounded soldier, he began to provide medical aid, as his squad caught up and provided security. *

*Specialist Giunta’s unwavering courage, selflessness, and decisive leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his platoon’s ability to defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American soldier from the enemy. Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, and the United States Army. *

Thanks to Lindsay Wise’s Armed Sources blog for the citation. FYI, Staff Sergeant Giunta (he got promoted!) is the first person to personally receive the Medal Of Honor in nearly 40 years. All the Medals of Honor awarded in the meantime have been posthumous.
 
I teared up watching that young man on the news. He’s a true American Hero.
 
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