May G-d Bless our Newest Medal of Honor Recipient: Army Staff Sgt Salvatore A. Giunta

Staff Sergeant Salvatore A. Giunta
2010 Congressional Medal of Honor Winner
The first living recipient since the Vietnam War

Three years ago, on 25 October 2007, at 22 years of age, while serving our country in the hellish Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, exercising extreme bravery and uncommon valor, then-Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta risked his life to save two comrades who had been severely wounded by enemy fire. Under heavy fire, he was shot twice (one hit his body armor, another hit his secondary weapon), but managed to not only save his comrades, but to medically save their lives.

To see the CBS video interview with Staff Sgt. Giunta, please click here.
For the written article on Staff Sgt. Giunta, please click here.


Giunta's official citation states:

Then-Specialist 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, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d 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, Specialist 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 to defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American paratrooper from enemy hands.

Thank G-d for our military, and for such humble, yet fierce, soldiers. Because of them, our flag still flies high, and the United States of America remains the best country on the face of this earth.