First Medal of Honor for Living Soldier Since 9/11

[Ichiban]

First Medal of Honor for Living Soldier Since 9/11

WASHINGTON — In the most dangerous valley of the most rugged corner of eastern Afghanistan, a small rifle team of airborne soldiers fell into a vicious insurgent ambush, a coordinated attack from three sides.

A young Army specialist, Salvatore A. Giunta, took a bullet to the chest but was saved by the heavy plates of his body armor. Shaking off the punch from the insurgent round, he jumped up and pulled two wounded soldiers to safety before grabbing hand grenades and running up the trail to where his squad mates had been on foot patrol.

There, he saw a chilling image: Two insurgents hauling one of his American comrades into the forest. Specialist Giunta hurled his grenades and emptied the clip in his automatic rifle, forcing the insurgents to drop the wounded soldier. Still taking fire, he provided cover and comfort to his badly wounded teammate until help arrived.

Rest of the story: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/11/world/asia/11medal.html

[PegLeg45]

FTA:

“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.”

---snip---

Sergeant Giunta has also received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He has served two tours of duty in Afghanistan.

Speaks volumes about both the man himself and the military personnel we have.

God Bless 'em.

[ellis4538]

Awsome, thanks for posting this.

Richard

[Ichiban]

FTA:
Speaks volumes about both the man himself and the military personnel we have.

God Bless 'em.

The man's humility really  struck me.  A breath of fresh air in this age of self absorption.

[2HOW]

GO ARMY, get some.  SALUTE   

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