At last, hero of ongoing war is alive to receive medal of. Sal giunta will end his army career in june and move to colorado to pursue his education, a military spokesman said tuesday. Salvatore giunta left talks with secretary of defense robert m. Jan 12, 2017 in this episode of the modern war institute podcast, capt. Jenny giunta and congressional medal of honor recipient army staff sgt. 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, 503d infantry regiment, and the united states army. Salvatore giunta was stoic as president barack obama hung the medal of honor around his neck, shook his hand and embraced him. Nov 16, 2010 president obama awards staff sergeant salvatore giunta, u. Medal of honor presentation ceremony for salvatore. Army, the medal of honor for conspicuous gallantry for his courageous actions against an armed enemy in the korengal valley of afghanistan in october 2007. Salvatore giunta medal of honor action the moment that earned sgt.
Medal of honor winner staff sergeant sal giunta s empowering memoir describes a boy working at a subway shop who was attracted to an army recruiting c. Sal giunta, an army staff sergeant who served in afghanistan from 2003 to 2011, discusses his experiences as the first living person since the. Greg anderson during a ceremony marking a new memorial to the brigades 18 medal of honor awardees on. Salvatore giunta is the first living soldier from the wars in iraq or afghanistan to be chosen to receive the medal of honor. Staff sergeant salvatore giunta, from the 173rd ariborne combat team, vicenza italy, poses for the camera in front of his hqs. Salvatore giunta, 25, of hiawatha, iowa, will be awarded the nations highest medal for valor for. The president may award, and present in the name of congress, a medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances. Jul 09, 2017 army staff sergeant to receive moh video. This afternoon in the east room of the white house, the president presented the medal of honor for conspicuous gallantry to staff sergeant salvatore giunta, u. 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 then specialist salvatore a. Nov 16, 2010 so, please join me in welcoming staff sergeant salvatore a.
He is the first living person to receive the united states armed forces highest decoration for valor, the medal of honor, for actions that occurred since. Medal of honor presentation ceremony for salvatore giunta 20101116 3. The sal giunta story two fought in world war ii, fought in vietnam and three fought in afghanistan, including giunta, sgt. Awarding the medal of honor to staff sergeant salvatore a. Salvatore giunta, a soldier who risked his life to stop taliban fighters from kidnapping a fallen comrade, will be the first living u. Salvatore giunta united states army 101116 image by familymwr reluctant hero becomes first living medal of honor recipient since vietnam nov 15, 2010 by elizabeth m. May 30, 2016 sal giunta, an army staff sergeant who served in afghanistan from 2003 to 2011, discusses his experiences as the first living person since the vietnam war to receive the u.
President obama presents the medal of honor to staff sergeant. Army, battle company, 2nd battalion, 503d infantry, 173d airborne brigade citation. Medal of honor recipient giunta to end army career cbs news. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. Giunta was awarded the medal of honor, the nations highest military valor decoration, for his heroic acts during an enemy engagement in korengal valley, afghanistan, in october 2007. Salvatore giunta becomes first living postvietnam recipient of the medal of honor. Salvatore giunta is being awarded the medal of honor for his actions in battle in afghanistan in october 2007. President obama awards staff sergeant salvatore giunta, u. Jan 11, 2017 for the modern war institutes first speaker series event of 2017, retired staff sgt. Sal giunta, an army staff sergeant who served in afghanistan from 2003 to 2011, discusses his experiences as the youngest person since the vietnam war to.
Des moines, iowa ap medal of honor recipient and iowa native staff sgt. Despite being under heavy fire by pkm, rpg, and small arms, spc. Medal of honor recipient salvatore giunta tells his story csmonitor. Killing bin laden, joining the navy seals, life after and his new book. Salvatore augustine giunta is a former united states army soldier and the first living person. This entry was posted in randys blog entries and tagged 60 minutes, isabel wilkerson, lara logan, medal of honor, staff sgt. Obama informed the infantryman that he would receive the nations highest award for his service and extraordinary bravery in battle, the statement said. Download larger image of united states army staff sergeant salvatore giunta and his wife, jenny.
Salvatore giunta what america is all about giunta is the first living medal of honor recipient from the war in afghanistan officials. Medal of honor recipient salvatore giunta tells his story. Salvatore giunta received a phone call from president barack obama yesterday, thanking him for his service. This is a fair use complilation of news video about u. This excerpt, about medal of honor recipient salvatore giunta, is from the book war by sebastian junger. Jenny giunta and congressional medal of honor recipient. He attended infantry one station unit training and the basic airborne course at fort benning, georgia, before being. Giunta received the medal of honor for his actions during a 2007 battle in eastern afghanistans korengal valley. And of all the military decorations that a president and a nation can bestow, there. Prior to that, he was responsible for the health, welfare, morale, training, and accountability of the soldiers in his company in the army, working to ensure all unit family members were well taken care. Nov 16, 2010 the president presents the medal of honor for conspicuous gallantry to staff sergeant salvatore giunta, u. Medal of honor goes to first living recipient from afghan war.
Medal of honor goes to first living recipient from afghan. Medal of honor for army sergeant the new york times. Then add the markup below to the body block of the same document. Reprinted with permission from twelve bookshachette book group, new york, ny. The original footage is owned by cbs news and pbs macneillehrer p. Gallardo was struck in the helmet by an ak47 round, which caused him to fall to the ground. Salvatore giunta, of the 173rd airborne combat team in vicenza, italy, poses in front of his headquarters may 25, 2010. Giunta visit the new york stock exchange on november 22, 2010 in new york city. Giunta the medal of honor takes us to afghanistan in 2007, when he was a specialist and rifle team leader in the us army. On 23 october, taliban fighters killed staff sergeant larry rougle and. Salvatore giunta, the first living medal of honor recipient since the vietnam war era, addressed a packed ike hall and delivered a moving lecture about the importance of leadership and trusting ones team.
Medal of honor for staff sergeant salvatore giunta youtube. At the white house on tuesday, a young man from iowa, 25yearold staff sergeant salvatore giunta, will become the first living soldier to earn the medal of honor since the vietnam war. Medal of honor for staff sergeant salvatore giunta duration. Army the first living servicemember from the iraq or afghanistan wars to receive it. Army staff sergeant salvatore giunta was awarded the medal of honor, our nations highest award for valor in combat, by president barack obama at the white house on november 16, 2010. Sal giunta gives his medal of honor to 173rd airborne brigade commander col. His book along with medal of honor by peter collier and if not now, when. This online quiz and worksheet will allow you to go over information about. Staff sergeant salvatore, sal, giunta was the first living person to receive the medal of honorthe highest honor presented by the u.
Salvatore augustine giunta, born january 21 1985, used to be a united states army soldier, and, in 2010, he got the army s highest award, the medal of honor. At last, hero of ongoing war is alive to receive medal of honor. Us army staff sergeant salvatore giunta is the first living medal of honor recipient for service in iraq and afghanistan. Staff sergeant salvatore giunta medal of honor recipient. Salvatore giunta smiles after being awarded the the medal of honor for conspicuous gallantry by u. To download the app, airmen can scan the available qr codes shown above or. Salvatore giunta, who charged into enemy gunfire and challenged a pair of insurgents to save a fellow soldier from being abducted. Nov 26, 2010 medal of honor ceremony for staff sgt. Dont say that he went above the call of duty when he singlehandedly stopped two. The 25yearold paratrooper received the medal for actions at the.
Amazing speech of medal of honor recipient army staff sgt. Salvatore giunta was named as the first living recipient of americas highest medal for valor since the start of the wars in iraq and afghanistan. Soldier for life with medal of honor recipient staff sergeant sal. Reprinted with permission from twelve books hachette book group, new york, ny. Salvatore giunta at a book signing at a post exchange in vicenza, italy in. The 25yearold paratrooper received the medal for actions at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on the night of october 25, 2007, at age 22.
In living with honor, this hero who maintains he is just a soldier tells us the story of the fateful day in afghanistan that led to his. Salvatore giunta, the first living recipient of the medal of honor for action in the wars in afghanistan and iraq, has decided to leave the army and pursue a college education. Giunta, now 25, of hiawatha, iowa, was an army specialist when he took part in the firefight in eastern. My carefree evenings turned into evenings full of skype dates with my. He was the first person to get one since the vietnam war giunta s received the medal of honor for his actions during a fierce battle following an enemy ambush in afghanistans korengal valley in october 2007. Another rpg in the initial volley hit extremely close to spc. Gates prior to the medal of honor presentation ceremony at the.
Army, the medal of honor for conspicuous gallantry for his courageous actions against an armed enemy in the korengal valley of. Soldier for life with medal of honor recipient staff. Medal of honor recipient staff sergeant sal giunta ret. Salvatore giunta at the white house tuesday, president barack obama awardedpresented the medal of honor to staff sgt.
In living with honor, this hero who maintains he is just a soldier tells us the story of the fateful day in afghanistan that led to his receiving the. Salvatore giunta, the first living recipient of the medal of honor since the vietnam war, tells lara logan what it was like getting a phone. Salvatore giunta and first lady michelle obama enter the east room of the white house to begin the medal. Born into a family with a strong military background, romesha joined the u. Medal of honor recipient sergeant salvatore giunta. One of the heroes of the recent american military conflicts was a serviceman by the name of sergeant salvatore giunta. There were, literally, thousands of bullets in the air at once, and more tracers streaking across the sky than there were stars overhead. In living with honor, this hero who maintains he is just a soldier tells us. President barack obama presents the medal of honor to staff sgt. Ssg giunta has been nominated for the medal of honor, the nations highest military valor decoration, for his heroic acts during a enemy engagement at the korengal valley in. Living with honor by salvatore giunta overdrive rakuten. Now, im going to go offscript here for a second and just say i really like this guy, said the president to laughter and applause. Salvatore giunta, the battle of midway, the great migration, the warmth of other suns, the west wing pilot, with the clothes on their backs on may 30, 2011 by randy.
Staff sergeant salvatore, sal, giunta was the first living person. It was a miracle that most of us werent killed instantly. Book for children until eventually adult are different content. Medal of honor for staff sergeant salvatore giunta the. President barack obama in the east room of the white house november 16, 2010 in washington, dc. Salvatore giunta simple english wikipedia, the free. 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. Salvatore giunta for extraordinary bravery in the face of almost death. Medal of honor winner staff sergeant sal giuntas empowering memoir. Heres his story of what happened that day in afghanistan. Salvatore giunta was awarded the medal of honor for risking his life to save two members of his squad from being captured in korengal valley, afghanistan. President barack obama presents the medal of honor to staff sergeant salvatore giunta in the east room of the white house, november 16, 2010. Salvatore giunta became the first living medal of honor recipient in nearly 40 years. The president may award, and present in the name of congress, a medal of honor of appropriate design, with.