The Medal Of Honor

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/11/60minutes/main7044681.shtml?tag=currentVideoInfo;segmentTitle

"This is only one moment," he said. "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."

  

        On Tuesday November 15, 2010, Sergeant Salvatore Giunta at the age of 22 will become the first living soldier to hear the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. This honor is the nation’s highest military award for heroism in battle which Giunta showed through his actions in eastern Afghanistan during an invasion on October 25, 2007. Here he rescued a fellow soldier from the Taliban by risking his life in the “Valley of Death”, otherwise known as the Korengal Valley. All the enemy wanted was to “get a body”, an American body. First, Giunta was able to save a fellow soldier, Gallardo, who was shot in the helmet, to help with the surprise ambush and was able to be protected from the many gun shots because of his body armor/ bulletproof vest. Feeling as if they were “running into a wall of bullets”, the men soon found that 22-year-old Sgt. Joshua Brennan had been taken by the Taliban. Giunta was one of the closest men to Brennan and ran ahead to save him, but sadly later found that he would die in the hospital. Gallardo said that Guinta didn’t act like he had just prevented the enemy from having one of the largest victories and felt as if he hadn’t given enough because Brennan had given everything fighting: his life. Giunta didn’t feel like he was worthy of this honor because everyone around contributed and it was the right thing to do as a soldier during a time in need. After all the events that took place, this daring man still believed that he was a mediocre soldier and wanted the United States to think about how amazing the great soldiers are who are risking their lives to fight for our country. That truly shows what the U.S. Military is all about, serving for the country and for eachother. I think people need to read this so they can really know what veterans have done for this country. I am really looking forward to doing ROTC next year in college, and maybe someday I will strive to be one of these great soldiers.