Salvatore Giunta

Salvatore Augustine Giunta, born January 21 1985, used to be a United States Army soldier, and, in 2010, he received the Army's highest award, the Medal of Honor. He was the first person to get one since the Vietnam War.

Giunta’s received the Medal of Honor for his actions during a fierce battle following an enemy ambush in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley in October 2007. 

Two U.S. soldiers, Sgt. Joshua Brennan and Spc. Hugo Mendoza, were killed in the attack.

Giunta, then a specialist with Company B, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, exposed himself to heavy enemy fire to aid a fellow soldier he believed was injured during the ambush.

He engaged the enemy and advanced up a hill alone and under fire. Giunta saw two insurgents carrying away a gravely injured Brennan. Giunta killed one of the insurgents and prevented the enemy from taking Brennan.

References

Category:1985 births
Category:Living people
Category:United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients
Category:Military people from Iowa