Soldier gives his Medal of Honor to the brigade he says earned it

VICENZA, Italy — The Medal of Honor has always hung heavily around Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta’s neck. On Wednesday, he finally got to take it off.

In a ceremony marking the 173rd Airborne Brigade’s new memorial to all the brigade’s soldiers who earned the military’s highest award, the former Subway sandwich maker unfastened the medal’s blue ribbon from his neck and handed it over to the brigade commander.

“It can’t be with me because it’s ours,” said Giunta. In 2010, for his heroic actions during an ambush in Afghanistan, became the first living man to earn the medal since the Vietnam War.

https://www.stripes.com/news/e....477085#.WWAffojyubj

The true hero doesn't believe he is one.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
The true hero doesn't believe he is one.

Tru' 'Dat Yo'. Brutha' be the Shiz. 'Aight.

It never ceases to amaze me how these treasures of our present and past can be, and are, so humble. Those of us who have never accomplished anything even remotely as bold, righteous, or bad-ass, are only left to wonder what makes these men what they are.

They truly are the best of us.

H&K-Guy

That's a heavy burden that SSGT Giunta's got there. Lotsa MOH awardees have a lot of issues handling the celebrity and notoriety that comes with the award. Some handle it better than others. As another MOH awardee and Marine Dakota Meyer said, its a reminder of the worst day of my life.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
The true hero doesn't believe he is one.

During the "celebration" period of his receiving the CMOH, I remember him deflecting a talking head's statement about being a hero. He stated something to the effect if you want to see real hero, look to the SOF who do the violent battling everyday.

Yes, he's got big ones, but is a humble soldier. Respect.