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. Army staff sergeant has become the first living recipient of the medal of honor since the vietnam war. Giunta, now 25, of hiawatha, iowa, was an army specialist when he took part in the firefight in eastern afghanistan three years ago. Nov 16, 2010 obama awards the medal of honor to staff sergeant salvatore a. Medal of honor goes to first living recipient from afghan war. Washington in an emotional ceremony, president obama on. Giunta delivered 16 november 2010, east room, the white house good afternoon, everybody. Army, the medal of honor for conspicuous gallantry for his courageous actions against an armed enemy in the korengal valley of. Giunta will be the first living recipient of the award since the vietnam war. Giunta obama awards the medal of honor to staff sergeant salvatore a.
Nov 16, 2010 remarks by the president in awarding the medal of honor to staff sergeant salvatore a. Living with honor book by salvatore giunta, joe layden. Salvatore giunta was stoic as president barack obama hung the medal of honor around his neck, shook his hand and embraced him. Medal of honor recipient honored by disney orange county. Medal of honor for army sergeant the new york times. Medal of honor recipient salvatore giunta interview. 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. At the white house tuesday, president barack obama awardedpresented the medal of honor to staff sgt. Salvatore giunta was a medal of honor recipient in 2010.
Staff sergeant salvatore giunta medal of honor recipient. Ssg salvatore giunta is the eighth man to be awarded the medal of honor for combat action in either afghanistan or iraq, but the first man alive to receive the award in person. Salvatore giunta will receive the medal of honor the nations highest medal for valor from president barack obama during a white house ceremony slated for 2 p. Giunta is the first living person to receive the medal of honor since the conclusion of the vietnam war. Leadership lessons from salvatore giunta wichita regional. Romesha received the award from president barack obama in an award ceremony at the white house on 11 february 20. 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.
In living with honor, this hero who maintains he is just a soldier tells us. Nov 16, 2010 salvatore giunta awarded medal of honor at white house today staff sergeant sal guinta became the first living member of the united states military to be awarded the medal of honor since 1976. Anaheim the most recent recipient of the medal of honor was saluted wednesday by disney. I found this book in my school library, and it caught my attention because my late grandfather was in the army. Awarding the medal of honor to staff sergeant salvatore a.
Medal of honor recipient salvatore giunta tells his story. At last, hero of ongoing war is alive to receive medal of. Sal giunta former army soldier recalls battle that led to him becoming the first living person since the vietnam war to receive the medal of honor. Salvatore giunta was inducted wednesday into what military officials refer to as the pentagons most sacred place. 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. Nov 16, 2010 president obama presents the medal of honor to staff sgt.
Giunta is the first living recipient of the medal of honor for actions in iraq or afghanistan, and the first living recipient of the medal of honor for actions which occurred since. Nov 16, 2010 more about giunta s story and the medal of honor history. Building a life worth fighting for by kyle carpenter, alone at dawn. President obama awarded americas highest honor during a white house ceremony in front of giunta s family members, brothers in arms, and other medal of. Army the first living servicemember from the iraq or afghanistan wars to receive it. Remarks by the president in awarding the medal of honor to. Nov 16, 2010 at the white house tuesday, president barack obama awardedpresented the medal of honor to staff sgt.
Giunta, serving with company b, 2nd battalion, 503rd infantry regiment, 173rd airborne brigade combat team, and a native of hiawatha, iowa, will be the first living service member. So, please join me in welcoming staff sergeant salvatore a. A memoir and millions of other books are available for. Staff sergeant salvatore giunta got the congressional medal of honor today, and he deserved it. Obama awards medal of honor to salvatore giunta newsone. At pentagon, medal of honor recipient inducted into hall. Three years after that act of battlefield bravery, salvatore giunta became the first living service member to receive the nations top military award, the medal of honor. Medal of honor ceremony for staff sergeant ty carter.
Nov 16, 2010 so, please join me in welcoming staff sergeant salvatore a. Salvatore giunta, freshly awarded the medal of honor for valor, joined a select group of service members inducted into the hall of heroes. Giunta has also received numerous other commendations, including the bronze star, meritorious service medal and the purple heart. Sal giunta, an army staff sergeant who served in afghanistan from 2003 to 2011, discusses his experiences as the first living person since the. Salvatore giunta for extraordinary bravery in the face of almost death. Medal of honor goes to first living recipient from afghan. Salvatore giunta, who rescued two members of his squad in october 2007 while fighting in the war in afghanistan, tuesday, nov. Sep 10, 2010 the white house friday announced that staff sgt. Medal of honor for staff sergeant salvatore giunta youtube. The first living soldier to win the medal of honor since the vietnam war tells lara logan in an emotional interview just what he did to earn the nations highest combat honor and how the. Giunta distinguished himself by acts of gallantry at the risk of his life above and beyond. Staff sergeant salvatore giunta, the nations newest medal of honor recipient, joined two of his forbearers, drew dix and pete lemon, at a rededication ceremony for the home of heroes memorial at the pueblo convention center in pueblo, colorado on saturday, may 14th, 2011. Nov 17, 2010 three years after that act of battlefield bravery, salvatore giunta became the first living service member to receive the nations top military award, the medal of honor. Salvatore giunta in a white house ceremony today, giuntas wife jennifer will be at.
As president barack obama hangs the pale blue ribbon holding the medal of honor around the neck of staff sgt. Salvatore giunta became the first living service member awarded the medal of honor for heroism in the wars in afghanistan or iraq at a white house ceremony this. Salvatore giunta during a ceremony in the east room of the white house in washington, tuesday, nov. Soldier for life with medal of honor recipient staff sergeant sal. Nov 16, 2010 president barack obama presents the medal of honor to army staff sgt. For his extraordinary gallantry that day, president barack obama awarded the medal of honor to giunta in a white house ceremony on.
Medal of honor recipient salvatore giunta tells his story staff sgt. Staff sergeant salvatore, sal, giunta was the first living person to receive the medal of honor the highest honor presented by the u. I have met two medal of honor recipients in my life and they both wear our nations highest military award with humility and an awareness that they wear it as representatives of all the men and women who experience combat particularly their comrades in arms who never came home. He is one of the few living persons to ever be awarded the medal of honor, and he was presented the award by president obama in a white house ceremony on november 16, 2010. Dec 04, 2012 staff sergeant salvatore, sal, giunta was the first living person to receive the medal of honorthe highest honor presented by the u. Salvatore giunta, 25, of hiawatha, iowa, will be awarded the nations highest medal for valor for his actions in afghanistan, and he will come to. 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. Listen online or offline with android, ios, web, chromecast, and. 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. Army staff sergeant salvatore giunta was awarded the medal of honor for putting himself in the line of fire to save two comrades. He is the fourth living medal of honor recipient for the wars in afghanistan and iraq following salvatore giunta, leroy petry, and dakota meyer, and the eleventh overall for these campaigns.
Salvatore giunta, 25, received americas highest bravery medal from president obama in. Salvatore giunta became the first living service member awarded the medal of honor for heroism in the wars in afghanistan or iraq at a. President barack obama presents the medal of honor to army staff sgt. Former army soldier recalls battle that led to him becoming the first living person since the vietnam war to receive the medal of honor. Faqs contact us store cspans book collection world legislatures. Obama awards the medal of honor to staff sergeant salvatore a. Giuntas 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. Giunta has also received numerous other commendations, including the bronze star.
In an ambush in october, 2007, he, in the words of. Us army sergeant salvatore giunta to receive medal of honour. Sal giunta, an army staff sergeant who served in afghanistan from 2003 to 2011. Us army sergeant salvatore giunta to receive medal of. Giunta, who received the nations highest military honor in novem. 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. On behalf of michelle and myself, welcome to the white house. Sep 16, 2010 medal of honor recipient salvatore giunta tells his story staff sgt. Dec 14, 2010 medal of honor recipient salvatore giunta interview on november 16, 2010, president barack obama presented staff sgt. Salvatore giunta, who rescued two members of his squad in october 2007 while fighting in.
Army staff sergeant salvatore sal giunta was awarded the congressional. Medal of honor recipient salvatore giunta interview on november 16, 2010, president barack obama presented staff sgt. Salvatore giunta is the first living soldier from the wars in iraq or afghanistan to be chosen to receive the medal of honor. Greg anderson during a ceremony marking a new memorial to the brigades 18 medal of honor awardees on. Upon receiving the medal of honor, giunta said he was appreciative but that the moment was bittersweet.
Salvatore giunta in a white house ceremony today, giunta s wife jennifer will be at. Salvatore giunta awarded medal of honor at white house today staff sergeant sal guinta became the first living member of the united states military to be awarded the medal of honor since 1976. The president may award, and present in the name of congress, a medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances. President obama presents the medal of honor to staff sgt. Salvatore giunta, 25, received americas highest bravery medal from. President obama awarded americas highest honor during a white house ceremony in front of giuntas family members, brothers in arms, and other medal of. At pentagon, medal of honor recipient inducted into hall of.
Staff sergeant salvatore, sal, giunta was the first living person to receive the medal of honorthe highest honor presented by the u. In contrast to the previous medal of honor ceremonies, where the president presented the posthumous award to the somber parents of a fallen hero, obama called this a. Giunta, a vicenza, italy, based paratrooper, will be awarded the medal of honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty in afghanistan. Sal giunta gives his medal of honor to 173rd airborne brigade commander col.
Salvatore giunta, us army, company b, 2d battalion airborne. President obama awards staff sergeant salvatore giunta, u. On 5 july 2017, during a dedication ceremony for the medal of honor. Nov 16, 2010 president obama awards staff sergeant salvatore giunta, u. More about giuntas story and the medal of honor history. Giunta is the third soldier to receive the medal of honor for service in afghanistan, and the first living recipient for the conflicts in iraq and. Salvatore augustine giunta is a former united states army soldier and the first living person since the vietnam war to receive the u. Jan 01, 2012 salvatore giunta was a medal of honor recipient in 2010. During the ceremony, president barack obama broke from his written speech to say, i really like this guy, about giunta.
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