Courage, Valor & Medal Of Honor

President Obama awards Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta, U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry for his courageous actions against an armed enemy in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan in October 2007. Key quote from President Obama: Now, I already mentioned I like this guy, Sal. And as I found out myself when I first spoke with him on the phone and when we met in the Oval Office today, he is a low-key guy, a humble guy, and he doesn't seek the limelight. And he'll tell you that he didn't do anything special; that he was just doing his job; that any of his brothers in the unit would do the same thing. In fact, he just lived up to what his team leader instructed him to do years before: "You do everything you can." Staff Sergeant Giunta, repeatedly and without hesitation, you charged forward through extreme enemy fire, embodying the warrior ethos that says, "I will never leave a fallen comrade." Your actions disrupted a devastating ambush before it could claim more lives. Your courage prevented the capture of an American soldier and brought that soldier back to his family. You may believe that you don't deserve this honor, but it was your fellow soldiers who recommended you for it. In fact, your commander specifically said in his recommendation that you lived up to the standards of the most decorated American soldier of World War II, Audie Murphy, who famously repelled an overwhelming enemy attack by himself for one simple reason: "They were killing my friends." That's why Salvatore Giunta risked his life for his fellow soldiers -- because they would risk their lives for him. That's what fueled his bravery -- not just the urgent impulse to have their backs, but the absolute confidence that they had his. One of them, Sal has said -- of these young men that he was with, he said, "They are just as much of me as I am." They are just as much of me as I am. So I would ask Sal's team, all of Battle Company who were with him that day, to please stand and be recognized as well. (Applause.) Gentlemen, thank you for your service. We're all in your debt. And I'm proud to be your Commander-in-Chief.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• obama
• medal of honor
• afghanistan
• army
• korengal valley

[GhettoNerd88]

I wonder why I am not allowed to simply hug every commissioned officer I see rather than salute?

[rollin92gt]

@Streetdisciple27 IT IS NOT AN INSULT to say SEMPER FI to anyone. Yes, SEMPER FIDELIS is one of the Motto's for my beloved Corps, but to say it's an insult is an insult. As Doragoon15 stated and I'll add, it's not trademarked or patented or signed sealed and delivered just for the Marine Corps. Even to you, I will say...

SEMPER FI

SSGT ALLEN

USMC

CLNC

[ivan2095]

what a hero..daam and so humble...

[osamawife6]

The soldier holding the medal is like, please don't let me drop this, please don't let me drop this.

[TheMrRaNk1]

Behold the face with the minute 21:55, look when breathing ...

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE SATISFACTION OF DUTY MORE THAN SATISFIED!

Greetings from Spain

[Zimnyification]

Did Obama take the events out of Junger's book? It's practically word for word.

[TheEAIBProductions]

@FilipinoBoYz420 you sir..made me giggly

[FilipinoBoYz420]

He said call of duty :D

[CAPace09]

Everybody, why must we argue over our leaders. Sure, we didn't vote for him, but he is still our president, and thus, the Commander in Cheif. Besides, he'll most likely be voted out of office in 2012. Let us honor all our veterens and remember those fallen.

CAPace09

[whereswaldo22]

And when he gets to heaven

saint peter will tell

one more solider reporting

I've served my time in hell

semper fi

[RASunGod50]

I really like this guy too ... good American and great man. Even if he is an Army kid ... Semper Fi.

[islandblood58]

every soldier that has been through the horrors of war or died in it should deserve it. what more can usa ask for than your life