Interview With SSG Sal Giunta, First Living Recipient Of MOH In 40 Years

Caution: Language



Via Deborah
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More below.
"Here is an article from the Wisconsin State Journal regarding Josh Brennan, the man that Salvatore Giunta kept from getting dragged off."

Bloody slide show

"Here is an article from the NY Times that gives you an idea of what life was like in the Korengal River Valley. It's 11 pages long, but very much worth the read. Salvatore Giunta's firefight starts on page 10."

Oct. 31, 1972 MOH Vietnam

Guns & Patriots

Oct. 31, 1972: U.S. Navy SEAL Petty Officer (future lieutenant) Michael E. Thornton; his commanding officer, Lt. Thomas R. Norris; and three South Vietnamese Naval commandos are conducting an intelligence-collection and prisoner-snatch operation deep behind enemy lines when they are discovered by a force that outnumbers them at least 10 to one.

Fierce, close fighting ensues. Thornton and Norris are both wounded, Norris badly.

As the team begins a fighting withdrawal toward the beach, Thornton learns that Norris is down, perhaps dead.

Thornton races back through a hailstorm of enemy fire to find and retrieve his commander – dead or alive.

Thornton finds Norris, kills two enemy soldiers who are standing over his wounded commander, then hoists Norris onto his shoulders and sprints back toward the beach for several hundred yards under heavy enemy fire.

When he hits the surf, Thornton ties Norris to his own body and starts swimming. When he sees one of the South Vietnamese commandos shot in the hip and unable to swim, Thornton grabs him too; swimming both men out to sea for more than two hours before they are rescued.

For his actions, Thornton will receive the Medal of Honor.

Norris will survive and receive the Medal himself for a previous action.

Bonnie Blue & Profiles Of Valor

Profiles of Valor: U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Miller

Miller

On Oct. 6, United States Army Special Forces Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. It was the third Medal of Honor awarded for actions in the war in Afghanistan, which began nine years ago Thursday. Sgt. Miller's mother, father and seven siblings received the Medal on his behalf.

In January 2008, Miller was serving with Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3312, which was conducting combined operations with Afghan troops from Forward Operating Base Naray in Kunar Province near the Pakistani border. When the team was ambushed by Taliban fighters, they called for close-air support. Miller engaged the enemy using his vehicle's turret-mounted 40mm MK-19 automatic grenade launcher.

After the team's captain was wounded, Miller remained at the front providing suppressive fire and saving the captain's life. Drawing the fire of some 100 enemy fighters, Miller fought on, giving his team time to take cover and return fire. He was shot in the side, but continued to fire and throw grenades at the enemy. Wounded a second time, Miller used his last ounce of life to fire his remaining ammunition and throw his last grenade. In the seven-hour battle, Miller is credited with having killed at least 10 jihadis and wounding dozens more, while saving the lives of seven Americans and 15 Afghans.

His citation concludes, "Staff Sergeant Miller's heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty, and at the cost of his own life, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army."