Staff Sgt. Sal Guinta Honored For Bravery In Afghanistan
DES MOINES, Iowa -- An Iowan will become the first living service member from the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq to receive the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor.
The White House said 25-year-old staff Army Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, of Hiawatha, was serving as a rifle team leader in Afghanistan when his platoon came under attack in 2007.
The White House said Giunta went beyond the call of duty when he exposed himself to enemy fire to pull a soldier back to cover. He also shot two insurgents after seeing them try to carry away a U.S. soldier.
"The Taliban were dragging him away and Staff Sgt. Giunta shot the Taliban, grabbed his buddy, took him and repelled some other attacks," Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood said.
That quick action by Giunta didn't go unnoticed.
"We go about our daily lives and would never once think about something like that, but to actually have the president of the United States not only call you, but to tell you that you've received the nation's highest honor for the military -- it's just hard to imagine," Hapgood said.
Giunta's father, Steven Giunta, said he and Giunta's mother are proud of their son but the honor is bittersweet because other soldiers died in the attack.
Giunta is now stationed in Italy.
Hapgood said Giunta has taken calls from reporters in Washington, D.C., and from all across the nation.
His parents said he is a very humble man who's not used to all the publicity.
"There's only about 90 of them (Medal of Honor recipients) that are still alive. The last one was actually an Iowan, Col. George Day, who is still alive," Hapgood said.
Six presidents and 34 years later, Giunta is now one of the living medal recipients.
"He's the first living medal of honor recipient since the Vietnam War," Hapgood said.
Hapgood said this award should make every Iowan proud, and he hopes it inspires many more.
"It reflects on all of us, whether we wear the uniform or not this is a young man that has the traits of the highest character," Hapgood said.
"Some people have sports heroes growing up, but other people have heroes in real life that do something amazing and certainly Sal Giunta's one of those kinds of heroes," Hapgood said.
His parents will hold a news conference Saturday at 11 a.m. in Cedar Rapids.
Giunta will receive the actual Medal of Honor in the next three to four weeks.
DES MOINES, Iowa -- An Iowan will become the first living service member from the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq to receive the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor.
The White House said 25-year-old staff Army Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, of Hiawatha, was serving as a rifle team leader in Afghanistan when his platoon came under attack in 2007.
The White House said Giunta went beyond the call of duty when he exposed himself to enemy fire to pull a soldier back to cover. He also shot two insurgents after seeing them try to carry away a U.S. soldier.
"The Taliban were dragging him away and Staff Sgt. Giunta shot the Taliban, grabbed his buddy, took him and repelled some other attacks," Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood said.
That quick action by Giunta didn't go unnoticed.
"We go about our daily lives and would never once think about something like that, but to actually have the president of the United States not only call you, but to tell you that you've received the nation's highest honor for the military -- it's just hard to imagine," Hapgood said.
Giunta's father, Steven Giunta, said he and Giunta's mother are proud of their son but the honor is bittersweet because other soldiers died in the attack.
Giunta is now stationed in Italy.
Hapgood said Giunta has taken calls from reporters in Washington, D.C., and from all across the nation.
His parents said he is a very humble man who's not used to all the publicity.
"There's only about 90 of them (Medal of Honor recipients) that are still alive. The last one was actually an Iowan, Col. George Day, who is still alive," Hapgood said.
Six presidents and 34 years later, Giunta is now one of the living medal recipients.
"He's the first living medal of honor recipient since the Vietnam War," Hapgood said.
Hapgood said this award should make every Iowan proud, and he hopes it inspires many more.
"It reflects on all of us, whether we wear the uniform or not this is a young man that has the traits of the highest character," Hapgood said.
"Some people have sports heroes growing up, but other people have heroes in real life that do something amazing and certainly Sal Giunta's one of those kinds of heroes," Hapgood said.
His parents will hold a news conference Saturday at 11 a.m. in Cedar Rapids.
Giunta will receive the actual Medal of Honor in the next three to four weeks.
