- Thread starter garrett4
- Start date
Re: MOH to be awarded to living soldier
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Medal of Honor Goes to Living Soldier; First Since Vietnam
Updated: 3 hours 43 minutes ago
Sharon Weinberger
Sharon Weinberger Contributor
AOL News
(Sept. 10) -- The White House announced today that President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, to an Army sergeant who will be the first living soldier to receive the honor since the Vietnam War.
The president personally called Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, an Army specialist in Afghanistan at the time the events took place, to let him know of the decision, the White House said in a statement. He was awarded the medal for placing his life in danger when he and fellow paratroopers were ambushed by the Taliban in 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," the White House statement about the award reads. "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."
Awarding the Medal of Honor to Giunta, 25, carries symbolic weight beyond the individual decision to award it to a living service member. Only a handful of the medals have been awarded, even posthumously, to service members who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A more detailed description of Giunta's heroic actions has been pieced together through interviews with him and other soldiers present that day in 2007, when they were ambushed by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley.
Giunta "was knocked flat by the gunfire; luckily, a well-aimed round failed to penetrate his armored chest plate," The Washington Post reports. "As the paratroopers tried to gather their senses and scramble for a shred of cover, Giunta reacted instinctively, running straight into the teeth of the ambush to aid three wounded soldiers, one by one, who had been separated from the others."
A New York Times Magazine article, which provided a blow-by-blow description of the ambush and ensuing battle, described Giunta as a "quiet Iowan lofted into a heroism he didn't want."
Fewer than 3,500 Medals of Honor have been awarded since 1863.</div></div>
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Medal of Honor Goes to Living Soldier; First Since Vietnam
Updated: 3 hours 43 minutes ago
Sharon Weinberger
Sharon Weinberger Contributor
AOL News
(Sept. 10) -- The White House announced today that President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, to an Army sergeant who will be the first living soldier to receive the honor since the Vietnam War.
The president personally called Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, an Army specialist in Afghanistan at the time the events took place, to let him know of the decision, the White House said in a statement. He was awarded the medal for placing his life in danger when he and fellow paratroopers were ambushed by the Taliban in 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," the White House statement about the award reads. "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."
Awarding the Medal of Honor to Giunta, 25, carries symbolic weight beyond the individual decision to award it to a living service member. Only a handful of the medals have been awarded, even posthumously, to service members who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A more detailed description of Giunta's heroic actions has been pieced together through interviews with him and other soldiers present that day in 2007, when they were ambushed by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley.
Giunta "was knocked flat by the gunfire; luckily, a well-aimed round failed to penetrate his armored chest plate," The Washington Post reports. "As the paratroopers tried to gather their senses and scramble for a shred of cover, Giunta reacted instinctively, running straight into the teeth of the ambush to aid three wounded soldiers, one by one, who had been separated from the others."
A New York Times Magazine article, which provided a blow-by-blow description of the ambush and ensuing battle, described Giunta as a "quiet Iowan lofted into a heroism he didn't want."
Fewer than 3,500 Medals of Honor have been awarded since 1863.</div></div>
G
Guest
Guest
Re: MOH to be awarded to living soldier
THAT is a hero!
The collective worth of every sports star, movie star, and music star is but a drop in the ocean to the value of this man.
THAT is a hero!
The collective worth of every sports star, movie star, and music star is but a drop in the ocean to the value of this man.
Re: MOH to be awarded to living soldier
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tucker301</div><div class="ubbcode-body">THAT is a hero!
The collective worth of every sports star, movie star, and music star is but a drop in the ocean to the value of this man. </div></div>
+100000000000000000000000000000000000, very well said
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tucker301</div><div class="ubbcode-body">THAT is a hero!
The collective worth of every sports star, movie star, and music star is but a drop in the ocean to the value of this man. </div></div>
+100000000000000000000000000000000000, very well said
Re: MOH to be awarded to living soldier
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tucker301</div><div class="ubbcode-body">THAT is a hero!
The collective worth of every sports star, movie star, and music star is but a drop in the ocean to the value of this man.</div></div>
Tucker, Thank you. I'll echo that!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tucker301</div><div class="ubbcode-body">THAT is a hero!
The collective worth of every sports star, movie star, and music star is but a drop in the ocean to the value of this man.</div></div>
Tucker, Thank you. I'll echo that!
Re: MOH to be awarded to living soldier
Mr.Miyagi: [puts hand to Daniel's chest] THIS say you brave.
[motions to medal] This say you lucky.
Well deserved for extreme heroism and congratulation's to Staff Sgt.Salvatore Giunta.
MS
Mr.Miyagi: [puts hand to Daniel's chest] THIS say you brave.
[motions to medal] This say you lucky.
Well deserved for extreme heroism and congratulation's to Staff Sgt.Salvatore Giunta.
MS
Re: MOH to be awarded to living soldier
Hero:
he·ro –noun, plural -roes; for 5 also -ros.
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved his buddies in combat.
This is a hero, this is someone who should hit the road selling war bonds....if we did such a thing.
Hero:
he·ro –noun, plural -roes; for 5 also -ros.
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved his buddies in combat.
This is a hero, this is someone who should hit the road selling war bonds....if we did such a thing.
Re: MOH to be awarded to living soldier
Yep!
Pretty awesome. I read this on my buddy's platoon's fanpage, haha.
Yep!
Re: MOH to be awarded to living soldier
This guy is a true American hero and an inspiration. Hats off to him and the rest of men and women in uniform that risk their lives so we can enjoy our freedom and safety here at home.
This guy is a true American hero and an inspiration. Hats off to him and the rest of men and women in uniform that risk their lives so we can enjoy our freedom and safety here at home.
Re: MOH to be awarded to living soldier
Imagine the E-7 Board's reaction when they see HIS DA Photo.
Congrats to him, I'm glad LIVING people are being awarded the MOH now.
He has a much harder, narrower career path to follow now. All eyes on him.
Imagine the E-7 Board's reaction when they see HIS DA Photo.
Congrats to him, I'm glad LIVING people are being awarded the MOH now.
He has a much harder, narrower career path to follow now. All eyes on him.
Re: MOH to be awarded to living soldier
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CavScout1983</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Imagine the E-7 Board's reaction when they see HIS DA Photo.</div></div>How about pay-day activities...I believe he gets saluted as well.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CavScout1983</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Imagine the E-7 Board's reaction when they see HIS DA Photo.</div></div>How about pay-day activities...I believe he gets saluted as well.
Re: MOH to be awarded to living soldier
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: doorkicker</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CavScout1983</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Imagine the E-7 Board's reaction when they see HIS DA Photo.</div></div>How about pay-day activities...I believe he gets saluted as well.</div></div>
Saluting a Medal of Honor recipient is not a requirement. It is merely done as a sign of respect. From what I gathered from the 85+ MOH Recipients I spent a week with in Chicago last year for the MOH Convention, they prefer not to be saluted.
ETA: This story went up on my Facebook the moment stars and stripes published it. Hopefully the Army will bring him to Washington D.C. next month for AUSA and I'm afforded the opportunity to meet him.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: doorkicker</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CavScout1983</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Imagine the E-7 Board's reaction when they see HIS DA Photo.</div></div>How about pay-day activities...I believe he gets saluted as well.</div></div>
Saluting a Medal of Honor recipient is not a requirement. It is merely done as a sign of respect. From what I gathered from the 85+ MOH Recipients I spent a week with in Chicago last year for the MOH Convention, they prefer not to be saluted.
ETA: This story went up on my Facebook the moment stars and stripes published it. Hopefully the Army will bring him to Washington D.C. next month for AUSA and I'm afforded the opportunity to meet him.
Re: MOH to be awarded to living soldier
I had heard about this guy a few days ago on the local radio station. They failed to mention he was still alive so this is excellent news indeed.
Awesome job Brother.
I had heard about this guy a few days ago on the local radio station. They failed to mention he was still alive so this is excellent news indeed.
Awesome job Brother.
Re: MOH to be awarded to living soldier
This was the quote SSG Giunta gave the NYTimes:
“I entered the Army when I was 18, and I’m 25 now. I became a man in the Army,” he said. “That night I learned a lot — and after that night I learned even more. This respect that people are giving to me? This was one moment. In my battalion, I am mediocre at best. This shows how great the rest of them are.”
What a humble guy. It's about time the MOH went to a living servicemember. He's a real hero.
This was the quote SSG Giunta gave the NYTimes:
“I entered the Army when I was 18, and I’m 25 now. I became a man in the Army,” he said. “That night I learned a lot — and after that night I learned even more. This respect that people are giving to me? This was one moment. In my battalion, I am mediocre at best. This shows how great the rest of them are.”
What a humble guy. It's about time the MOH went to a living servicemember. He's a real hero.
Re: MOH to be awarded to living soldier
Humility the often one of the most overlooked aspects of a leader.
He was humble before the prospect of a wounded comrade ending up a POW and as such prostrated himself before a fate unknown to rectify it.
He is continuing with his humility because of his inherent leadership abilities.
I just hope he is able to deal with the pressure that will undoubtedly come from this award as he will continue serving after being awarded it I assume.
Hopefully prior MOH recipients that are still living can reach out to him and let him know what he is facing and the best courses of action for each new challenge.
Humility the often one of the most overlooked aspects of a leader.
He was humble before the prospect of a wounded comrade ending up a POW and as such prostrated himself before a fate unknown to rectify it.
He is continuing with his humility because of his inherent leadership abilities.
I just hope he is able to deal with the pressure that will undoubtedly come from this award as he will continue serving after being awarded it I assume.
Hopefully prior MOH recipients that are still living can reach out to him and let him know what he is facing and the best courses of action for each new challenge.
Re: MOH to be awarded to living soldier
I salute you SSgt. I only wish he could have it pinned on by someone else.
I salute you SSgt. I only wish he could have it pinned on by someone else.
Similar threads
