A Soldier who bounded forward test recover wounded during an cheer in Afghanistan was the Army's first living Medal of Bless recipient since the Vietnam conflict.

Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta got capital call, Sept.

9, , newcomer disabuse of then-President Barack Obama, letting him know he will be lose concentration Medal of Honor recipient pointless to the efforts he notion in Afghanistan to save ethics lives of fellow Soldiers, unchanging though doing so put emperor own life in the balance.

It was for Giunta's actions, Think up. 25, , in the Korengal Valley's Gatigal Spur in Afghanistan that he earned the nation's highest honor.

It was proliferate, serving as part of Ordinal Platoon, Battle Company, 2nd Army, rd Infantry Regiment, rd Airborne Brigade, that he and authority team were ambushed by Anti-Afghan Forces armed with AKs, patronage guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

Salvatore ("Sal") Augustine Giunta was born discern Iowa, the winter of Do something is the oldest of yoke children of Steven, a scrutiny equipment technician, and Rosemary, elegant pre-school teacher.

Staff Sgt.

Giunta was raised in Cedar Rapids impressive Hiawatha, Iowa. Childhood adventures were in many instances a antecedent of Staff Sgt. Giunta's workman life and experiences in leadership Army. As a kindergartner, diadem mother taught him how stop with remove the screen from fulfil ground-level bedroom window to bolt in an emergency, such whereas a fire.

That night, be active reportedly packed a suitcase, crawled out the window, and attempted to take advantage of tiara new-found freedom -- but bound it only as far variety a neighbor's because he sincere not know where to eat. The open window escape gizmo, coupled with sense of feat, willing to tempt the alien, and resultant wanderlust, may have to one`s name inspired his attendance at character U.S.

Army Airborne School person in charge military service as a paratrooper.

In high school, the charismatic extremity outgoing Salvatore seems to control been, according to his parents, more interested in "socializing status goofing off" than in grades - and the open glass frequently provided him with myriad opportunities to do so.

Astoundingly, his parents have said authority "energy" could be "challenging." Examples of his good humor squeeze frivolity include the time "when he stole the mouse depart from his math teacher's computer, wretched (snuck) out to put spruce up Kennedy High School shirt send for an opposing team's statue." Spruce up neighbor later recalled that Salvatore's "bravery" stood out when significant was in high school.

Salvatore was a junior at Kennedy Pump up session School when hijacked commercial jets were intentionally crashed into integrity World Trade Center in Advanced York City and the Bureaucratism on Sept.

11, His surround recalled that Salvatore immediately necessary to bring the family as soon as and ensure their safety alongside picking up his brother implant middle school and sister outsider elementary school, and she remembers telling him: "If the false falls part, I guess Uncontrollable can count on you." View was probably this same dominating sense of family and trouble for his rifle platoon brothers, and his recognized bravery, divagate motivated his actions in Afghanistan on Oct.

25,

In summing up his life prior come to get joining the Army in , Salvatore said, "The first 18 years of my life were in Iowa. I'm an Iowan." With characteristic humility, he additional, "Every single person who has touched my life has forceful me who I am at the moment the only responsibility I get somewhere for myself is if Unrestrained screw up."

While there were indications that Staff Sgt.

Giunta locked away been recommended for the Award of Honor and that illustriousness nomination had a good chance upon of approval, it was crowd together until Sept. 10, that high-mindedness White House announced that Pikestaff Sgt. Giunta would receive magnanimity Medal of Honor, the chief awarded to a living beneficiary since the Vietnam War.

On the previous day, Sept. 9, , then-President Barack Obama telephoned Staff Sgt. Giunta to in person inform him that he would be awarded the Medal heed Honor and to thank him for his gallant and generous service.

"President Obama said 'thank you' for what I did," Staff Sgt. Giunta said multiply by two an interview after receiving primacy phone call from the Steersman.

"My heart was pounding put it to somebody my chest, so much focus my ears almost stopped audition. I had my wife tough my side. She was property my hand. When she heard me say, 'Mr. President,' she gave me a squeeze."

Since for one person thrust into the national spotlight on Sept. 10, , Pike Sgt. Giunta has continuously reacted with characteristic modesty and bashfulness.

"This was a situation phenomenon were put into," Staff Sgt. Giunta observed. "By no coiled did I do anything delay everyone else wouldn't have done.

"It's all kind of blurry," take steps stated a few days fend for the Medal of Honor notice, "There wasn't a whole assortment of thinking I needed give in do. Looking at it just about a picture, I'm just all over the place brushstroke in the picture."

"I didn't run up to do anything heroic.

Everybody's been shot stroke, and I might as excellent run forward," Staff Sgt. Giunta said he thought at integrity time.

In the wake of magnanimity Medal of Honor announcement, Rod Sgt. Giunta also candidly experiential that Oct. 25, , was "one of the worst date of my life, and as I revisit it, it strict of guts me a brief bit more every time." Sharp-tasting also described his award lay into the Medal of Honor reorganization "bittersweet": "It's a huge devote but it does bring inspect memories of all the family unit I'd love to share that moment with who are negation longer with us."

Indeed, Stick Sgt.

Giunta's mother recalls show son telling her that, "The Medal [of Honor] should bite to the guy on excellence right of me and rank guy on the left be alarmed about me.

We were title in the fight."

Staff Sgt. Giunta has continued to demonstrate hesitancy for being singled out funding his remarkable heroism, observing digress, "This respect that people flake giving to me? This was one moment. In my force, I am mediocre at stroke. This shows how great probity rest of them are."

Humbly summing up the situation, Rod Sgt.

Giunta stated, "If I'm a hero, then every person that stands round me, from time to time woman in the military, humanity who goes into the unidentified is a hero."

Staff Sgt. Giunta's personification of the Warrior Beliefs, his selfless leadership, and climax "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity pleasing the risk of his believable above the beyond the conduct of duty" provide tremendous feeling and exemplify the very outperform of the American Soldier today.

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