ianstone
09-11-2010, 03:41 PM
Brave soldier who risked his life to save two comrades will be first living Afghan vet to receive nation's highest military honour
By Mail Foreign Service (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Mail+Foreign+Service)
Last updated at 10:10 PM on 10th September 2010
Comments (8) (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1310984/Brave-soldier-risked-life-save-comrades-living-Afghan-veteran-receive-nations-highest-military-honour.html#comments)
Add to My Stories (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1310984/Brave-soldier-risked-life-save-comrades-living-Afghan-veteran-receive-nations-highest-military-honour.html)
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/09/10/article-1310984-0B1FDB7C000005DC-256_233x392.jpg Beyond the call of duty: Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta, who will become the first living serviceman to receive the Medal of Honor for service during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq
A brave soldier who risked his life twice to save two comrades is set to become the first living veteran of the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq to receive the Medal of Honor.
Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta, 25, will become the first living serviceman to receive the nation's highest military honour since the Vietnam War.
While fighting in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley in October, 2007, he threw himself in the path of enemy fire to pull a wounded comrade back to safety.
Later, he spotted two insurgents carrying away another fellow soldier. Giunta immediately attacked, killing one and wounding the other.
He then provided medical aid to the wounded American soldier.
It was President Barack Obama who confirmed the news to Giunta today. The Medal of Honor is given for highest valour in combat.
The Iowa native enlisted in the army in 2005.
He has done two tours of Afghanistan - his first just months after joining the military.
The Medal of Honor will be his highest award - but it is not his first. Giunta has already received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and a Nato Service Medal, among other awards.
More...
Former Army officer awarded MBE is jailed for defrauding business out of £600k to fund lavish lifestyle (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1311079/Ex-Army-officer-awarded-MBE-jailed-600-000-fraud.html)
He is the eighth serviceman to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan or Iraq.
Giunta is currently stationed with his wife as a non-commissioned officer in Italy. There he is responsible for the morale, training, health and welfare of U.S. Army personnel in the area.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1310984/Brave-soldier-risked-life-save-comrades-living-Afghan-veteran-receive-nations-highest-military-honour.html#ixzz0zFfPj0eq
By Mail Foreign Service (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Mail+Foreign+Service)
Last updated at 10:10 PM on 10th September 2010
Comments (8) (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1310984/Brave-soldier-risked-life-save-comrades-living-Afghan-veteran-receive-nations-highest-military-honour.html#comments)
Add to My Stories (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1310984/Brave-soldier-risked-life-save-comrades-living-Afghan-veteran-receive-nations-highest-military-honour.html)
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/09/10/article-1310984-0B1FDB7C000005DC-256_233x392.jpg Beyond the call of duty: Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta, who will become the first living serviceman to receive the Medal of Honor for service during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq
A brave soldier who risked his life twice to save two comrades is set to become the first living veteran of the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq to receive the Medal of Honor.
Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta, 25, will become the first living serviceman to receive the nation's highest military honour since the Vietnam War.
While fighting in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley in October, 2007, he threw himself in the path of enemy fire to pull a wounded comrade back to safety.
Later, he spotted two insurgents carrying away another fellow soldier. Giunta immediately attacked, killing one and wounding the other.
He then provided medical aid to the wounded American soldier.
It was President Barack Obama who confirmed the news to Giunta today. The Medal of Honor is given for highest valour in combat.
The Iowa native enlisted in the army in 2005.
He has done two tours of Afghanistan - his first just months after joining the military.
The Medal of Honor will be his highest award - but it is not his first. Giunta has already received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and a Nato Service Medal, among other awards.
More...
Former Army officer awarded MBE is jailed for defrauding business out of £600k to fund lavish lifestyle (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1311079/Ex-Army-officer-awarded-MBE-jailed-600-000-fraud.html)
He is the eighth serviceman to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan or Iraq.
Giunta is currently stationed with his wife as a non-commissioned officer in Italy. There he is responsible for the morale, training, health and welfare of U.S. Army personnel in the area.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1310984/Brave-soldier-risked-life-save-comrades-living-Afghan-veteran-receive-nations-highest-military-honour.html#ixzz0zFfPj0eq