Meet Sal Giunta, the first living Medal of Honor winner since Vietnam

[jaminjim]

The Medal has not been given recently for killing a bunch of the enemy at great risk to themselves, but more for recently it has been bestowed on those that have saved people while risking their life.

 

[Crazynuff]

The Medal has not been given recently for killing a bunch of the enemy at great risk to themselves, but more for recently it has been bestowed on those that have saved people while risking their life.

Are you trying to make a point here ? The medal is awarded for courage displayed at risk of one's life . Specialist Giunta ran out alone chasing terrorists dragging his friend off . He was under no cover at all . I fail to see how an enemy body count should be any factor in this .
I want to say I appreciate the responses in this forum . I posted the article in two other political forums and didn't get a single response . To me that indicates a great lack of appreciation for those serving to protect us .

 

[witness23]

Are you trying to make a point here ? The medal is awarded for courage displayed at risk of one's life . Specialist Giunta ran out alone chasing terrorists dragging his friend off . He was under no cover at all . I fail to see how an enemy body count should be any factor in this .
I want to say I appreciate the responses in this forum . I posted the article in two other political forums and didn't get a single response . To me that indicates a great lack of appreciation for those serving to protect us .

You are correct sir:

Awarded for "[Conspicuous] gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party."

 

[OntarioVanMan]

For me...the award was also bestowed by the PEOPLE of the USA....to a true hero...putting politics into this ceremony only belittles the cause and why it was given...

I watched the people and family and friends..the happiness and joy, the tears flowing...The respect by fellow servicemen and women....I hardly noticed the President...it was not about him...

 

[witness23]

For me...the award was also bestowed by the PEOPLE of the USA....to a true hero...putting politics into this ceremony only belittles the cause and why it was given...

I watched the people and family and friends..the happiness and joy, the tears flowing...The respect by fellow servicemen and women....I hardly noticed the President...it was not about him...

What I thought was truly awesome was that it was given to a live recipient.

 

[Crazynuff]

Staff Sgt. Giunta's humble attitude in these words says a lot . "This is only one moment," he added. "I don't think I did anything that anyone else I was with wouldn't have done. I was in a position to do it. That was what needed to be done. So that's what I did." .
I think only combat veterans can understand his meaning in this . People ask "Why not more men receiving medals ? " One reason is the circumstances just don't present themselves .
While I don't totally agree "anyone else" would have taken the same action many would . There is a bond with men in a combat unit and they watch out for each other .
Giunta knows he represents others that have what it takes to win medals . They don't consider themselves heroes . They are Americans serving their country and earning their freedom and rights they enjoy .

 

[jaminjim]

Are you trying to make a point here ?

Yes I thought it was clear.

The medal is awarded for courage displayed at risk of one's life .

I'm aware of that.

Specialist Giunta ran out alone chasing terrorists dragging his friend off . He was under no cover at all .

He did do that and was bestowed the Medal of Honor, which I whole Heartedly believe he deserves.

I fail to see how an enemy body count should be any factor in this .

In the case of SSG. Sal Giunta, it doesn't I was clearly talking about recent awards.

Here is what I'm talking about:
I have deleted his name and unit for a good reason, you'll just have to trust me.

Rank and organization: U.S. Army, For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp5c. , a tank driver with Company B, was a member of a reaction force moving to aid other elements of his platoon, which was in heavy contact with a battalion size North Vietnamese force. Sp5c. tank, upon reaching the point of contact, threw a track and became immobilized. Realizing that he could do no more as a driver, he climbed out of the vehicle, armed only with a .45 caliber pistol. Despite intense hostile fire, Sp5c. killed several enemy soldiers before he had expended his ammunition. Returning to his tank through a heavy volume of antitank rocket, small arms and automatic weapons fire, he obtained a sub-machine gun with which to continue his fight against the advancing enemy. Armed with this weapon, Sp5c. again braved deadly enemy fire to return to the center of the ambush site where he courageously eliminated more of the determined foe. Engaged in extremely close combat when the last of his ammunition was expended, he killed an enemy soldier with the stock end of his submachine gun. Now weaponless, Sp5c. ignored the enemy fire around him, climbed into his platoon sergeant's tank, extricated a wounded crewmember and carried him to an armored personnel carrier. He then returned to the same tank and assisted in firing the main gun until it jammed. In a magnificent display of courage, Sp5c. exited the tank and again armed only with a .45 caliber pistol, engaged several North Vietnamese troops in close proximity to the vehicle. Fighting his way through devastating fire and remounting his own immobilized tank, he remained fully exposed to the enemy as he bravely and skillfully engaged them with the tank's externally-mounted .50 caliber machine gun; where he remained until the situation was brought under control. Sp5c. profound concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.

I served with this Hero when the President was going to present him with his Medal, He refused to go to the Ceremony saying to the affect; "Give the medal to the people that were killed during the war"

If you read the Citation for SSG. Giunta, the tone is completely different in my opinion, to me it's written in a way to soften the facts of war.

He saved several men and had to dispatch several enemy combatants in the process. In the narrative of the Citation I posted I see a Warrior killing the enemy with whatever is at hand, going back for more stuff to kill some more so that his fellow soldiers will stay alive.

 

[milpig]

SSG Guinea displayed everything that an American hero should.

Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. Also known as the Army values. For that he was recognized.

This post is about that. Not about politics. I was glad OVM posted it until I read the posts that followed.

Please take the time to read his story. Pass on his story to your kids and/or grand kids. Tell them about other MOH recipients. Tell them about all of this countries unrecognized heros. Just please leave the politics in the threads about politics. No matter what your political views are I think this story is about more.

Just my 2cents... milpig out.

 

[witness23]

Please take the time to read his story. Pass on his story to your kids and/or grand kids. Tell them about other MOH recipients. Tell them about all of this countries unrecognized heros. Just please leave the politics in the threads about politics. No matter what your political views are I think this story is about more.

Exaclty!! Great advice.