Staff Sgt. Giunta's Medal of Honor - YouTube


This is one of the finest, if quite emotional, interviews that I've seen with a hero.

Here, SSGT. Salvatore Giunta, MH, talks with CBS's Lara Logan about how he received the Medal of Honor for gallant actions in Afghanistan, despite being wounded twice while recovering an American being dragged off by Taliban. Giunta faced withering enemy fire to save a fellow soldier.

Watch his face and those of his companions also involved in that incident, for which another soldier was awarded the Silver Star. You can see the pain and horror of what happened in that face. He is an articulate speaker, but sometimes emotion makes it difficult for him to answer Lara's questions without showing what he went through.

Logan's accent is South African, if you might wonder. She is the sole journalist who seems to admire our military, and lives now in the USA with her American husband and children. She nearly came to grief, herself, during a mob scene in Cairo some time after this segment of 60 Minutes was filmed.

SSG. Giunta's last comment echoes his modesty and honor in my opinion when he says "think of who the really great soldiers are."

May God bless them all and provide peace to the families of those who gave all and to those who will carry their wounds forever.

Salvatore Giunta, Medal of Honor, War in Afghanistan - YouTube


Here's an updated video, with Giunta speaking in more relaxed mode, with added detail. He has a neat beard here, so may have left the Army.

This is also an outstanding video.

Wow! What a man!

"Think how good the great soldiers are ..."

That is the most haunting comment in the entire piece.

What an exceptional military man, and human being.

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I'm with the banned ...

Had a hard time watching that average soldiers interview. My glasses were fogging for some reason. What a great young man .

How can anyone not have the greatest respect, for not only this brave hero, but for all the ones who participated in that fire fight. These are America's best!

It truly bothers me that the media minimizes these heroes, giving the antics of dysfunctional celebrities more coverage than those who receive the Medal of Honor.

These guys get maybe a minute on the evening news the night that they receive the Medal and maybe an appearance or two on Leno or Letterman. That's about it, unless you access these videos on YouTube.

Our allies in Afghanistan are seldom even mentioned, as the left-leaning media seeks to avoid mention that the USA is not alone in that war-torn excuse for a nation. Some of those allies have also produced heroes, several Brits and Australians receiving the Victoria Cross and one female Royal Navy medic receiving the Military Cross for gallantry under fire while saving a wounded soldier of the The Rifles, whose throat was hit by a Taliban bullet. She was only the second woman in history to receive that decoration, but the news here ignored that.

We have no idea of how many heroes our allies such as Norway, Canada, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, etc. may have produced in our common cause.

I am thankful to CBS and to Lara Logan for this brief glimpse into one hero's life and how he views his acclaim.

When you see this you realize there is still hope for this Great
Country. Just knowing there are men of this character and courage
in our military makes one appreciate what we often take for granted
day to day. We must never forget what these men have done and
continue to do to protect our Freedoms.

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

That's because our society became a tabloid entertainment fueled entity long ago. Heroism doesn't appeal to the average TV viewer ... Kim Kardashian's baby does; Amanda Bynes and Lindsay Lohan melting down does; reality show nonsense does; LeBron James slam-dunking a basket does. The most inane celebrity-related garbage gets the highest ratings.

Yesterday is a perfect example. What was the predominant lead news story (TV, print, and online) last evening ... White House scandals? US military action overseas? Nope ... actor James Gandolfini dying. Sorry to hear such "news", but Tony Soprano's obit doesn't rate too highly on my personal "What's going on in the world?" meter, especially at the expense of something more important to the country's livelihood.

The Medal of Honor story should be mandatory viewing for adults and children alike ... everyone who values their freedoms as Americans. Sadly, it's relegated to a youtube search if you have enough info to search for it. Imagine asking 100 people on the street if they know who Sal Giunta is? Depending on geographic region, I'd say the number would be 0% - 5%. Sad ...

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I'm with the banned ...

If memory serves, a New Zealander, a Maori, recieved the Victoria Cross in Afghanistan also.

I think so, and a Ghurka, for rescuing many wounded while under intense fire. One of the wounded was his commander.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRF1qHHxvVQ Here is Cpl. Willy Apiata, VC. I think he's the Maori or half Maori that you meant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d17OF...1&feature=fvwp Here a Ghurka receives the Conspicious Gallantry Cross, just beneath the Victoria Cross.


BTW, the famous opera singer, Dame Kiri te Kanawa, is either Maori or half Maori. You may have seen her in Rolex ads. You can catch her on YouTube, best, I think, in a performance from, "The Messiah." A superb voice!

An Aussie VC ceremony was held in Perth: he is from West Australia, so the event wasn't in Canberra, I guess. Cpl. Ben Roberts-Smith, VC took out three Taliban gun emplacements. He is an Australian SAS trooper. One of the women seen is the Prime Minister there. The other is the Governor-General, who presented the medal, the second Australian Victoria Cross since the Vietnam war. (Another Aussie VC awardee was received by the Queen in the UK.)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&fe...&v=NjtaDj2JIzY

Going Home - Fallen Soldier Bagpipe Tribute - YouTube


And here is an outstanding video honoring our dead from some Allied nations fighting in Afghanistan. See how many countries you can count here.

The shot of the soldier on watch at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers (US) is impressive, as are all the scenes.

" Think how good the great soldiers are". I think we just saw a "great" soldier.

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War Eagle!!!

I know of her, but have never heard her sing. It would be impressive hearing her do 'The Messiah'. Wonder if whe has any CDs?

Colin-

I have her voice on a tape of The Messiah, but no CD's. I'm sure that her CD 's are in stores, and you can hear her on You Tube. Dame Kiri is very well known as an opera singer.
She sang at Charles and Diana's wedding, by Royal request.

I think she may be retired now. Not sure. She appeared in Dallas some years ago, but I was unable to attend. However, I have met Placido Domingo and introduced my children to him.