SSgt. Salvatore Giunta
25 years old
from Ceder Rapid, Iowa
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
Yesterday, SSgt. Salvatore Giunta became the first living recipient of the Medal Of Honor since the Vietnam War.
From the official citation:
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.”
NY Daily Mail
Of all the stories I’ve featured over the years at The Pink Flamingo, I think this is the one that gives me the most goose-bumps, and fills me with such pride. I can’t read it without tearing up. Perhaps one of the reasons is the fact that he looks so much like a cousin of mine when he was that age.
“…What does an honest to goodness LIVING hero look like? A living hero looks just like Army Spec. Salvatore Giunta, the first living Medal of Honor recipient since Vietnam. Until today, only 88 of the 3,448 recipients of our nation’s highest honor are still alive. Add another name to that list: Army Spec. Salvatore Giunta.
Watch for Salvatore Giunta to be given a hero’s welcome, an a heck of a lot of press. He may need our prayers now more than ever!
In a world where we need some good, decent, and positive news, this is the best there can be….”
The Pink Flamingo
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Cindy
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