1st living recipient of Medal Of Honor since 9/11 - link to NYT article.

[old mark]

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/11/world/asia/11medal.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&src=ig

25 year old Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta will be awarded the Medal Of Honor by President Obama.
In October 2007, he was on a patrol in Afghanistan when he was shot in the chest. His life saved by his vest, Giunta, under fire pulled 2 companions to safety, and saw a third being dragged away by enemy fighters. He fired on them and threw grenades, driving them away and rescued and protected the third wounded soldier, under enemy fire all the while, till help arrived.

There have been other Medal Of Honor winners in the Iraq and Afghan wars, but all of them had been killed in action. There have been very few MOH awards since 9/11 - it seems commanders are reluctant to approve recommendations for the Medal.

SSG Giunta enlisted in the Army at age 18.

mark

[m00nbeam]

1. Now that is a true hero

[old mark]

2. SSG Giunta stated he is just a "mediocre" soldier in his unit, feels he did nothing special

to deserve the Medal.

Evidently, others who know him feel differently.

mark

[old mark]

3. Link to article describing the Medal Of Honor - history, and what it entails...

Link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Honor

mark

[Ohio Joe]

4. K&R - nt

[applegrove]

5. Wow that story bring a tear to my eye.