Salvatore Giunta Awarded Medal of Honor

President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Honor to Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010. Giunta, from Hiawatha, Iowa, is the first living veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to receive the award.

/ AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

Updated 4:34 p.m. Eastern Time

President Obama today awarded the Medal of Honor to Army Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta for his heroic actions in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan in October 2007.

"It is my privilege to present our nation's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, to a soldier as humble as he is heroic: Staff Sergeant Salvatore A. Giunta," the president said in an East Room ceremony.

He went on to say that he wanted to "go off script" and point out that "I really like this guy."

"We all just get a sense of people and who they are, and when you meet Sal and you meet his family, you are just absolutely convinced that this is what America is all about," he said. "And it just makes you proud. And so this is a joyous occasion for me -- something that I have been looking forward to."

Giunta, a 25-year-old Iowa native, was given the award for repeatedly running into enemy fire to save American lives and rescue a fellow soldier from the Taliban. "It had been as intense and violent a firefight as any soldier will experience," Mr. Obama said. 

All nine of the Medals of Honor awarded previously for conduct since the end of the Vietnam War have gone to members of the military who fell in the line of duty, including three awarded by Mr. Obama. It has been almost 40 years since the award was given to someone who was not killed in action.

Giunta's story was told on CBS' "60 Minutes" Sunday. In that story, he called himself a "mediocre" soldier who was simply doing his job. (Watch at left.)

Mr. Obama described Giunta as "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."

He went on to say that while Giunta "may believe that you don't deserve this honor," he had been recommended for it by his fellow soldiers, including a commander who compared his actions to those of World War 2 hero Audie Murphy.

Murphy, Mr. Obama noted, "famously repelled an overwhelming enemy attack by himself for one simple reason: 'They were killing my friends.'"

Mr. Obama said Giunta, his company and the other members of the military are shouldering more than their fair share of their burden as Americans. He lauded them for their decision to volunteer to serve their country.

"In an era when it's never been more tempting to chase personal ambition or narrow self interest, they chose the opposite," the president said.

Giunta's actions came after an ambush by at least a dozen Taliban fighters, who fired at the American soldiers from two sides simultaneously at close range, pinning down the entire unit in an instant. He was hit twice while running into enemy fire to pull his fellow soldiers to cover, with one shot hitting his bulletproof vest and another shattering a weapon. He likely saved the life of one soldier and kept another from being taken by the Taliban.

Giunta, who is now serving at a U.S. base in Italy, told "60 minutes" he isn't comfortable with being called a hero.

(At left, Giunta and his wife Jenny talk about his first trip home, their lives together, and what the future might hold.)

"I'm not at peace with that at all," he said. "And coming and talking about it and people wanting to shake my hand because of it, it hurts me because it's not what I want. And to be with so many people doing so much stuff and then to be singled out - and put forward. I mean, everyone did something. Okay, someone wrote about this, and then someone else approved it. And then a story was told and handshakes were made, and then sooner or later, I'm talkin' to the president of the United States. I don't see how that happened."

"This is only one moment," he added. "I don't think I did anything that anyone else I was with wouldn't have done. I was in a position to do it. That was what needed to be done. So that's what I did."

Shortly after receiving the award, Giunta, his wife at his side, called today's ceremony "truly an incredible experience."

He said that although he's the one wearing the Medal, it represents all those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Giunta added that the moment was bittersweet and that he would give back the Medal in a second to have his fallen comrades back with him.

During the ceremony, Mr. Obama asked the families of the two soldiers killed on the ambush -- Sergeant Joshua Brennan and Specialist Hugo Mendoza -- to stand. Brennan was the soldier who Giunta kept from being taken by the Taliban, and the two were close friends.

Also present and recognized at the ceremony were other members of Battle Company 2d of the 503d of the 173d Airborne Brigade.

"We're all in your debt," Mr. Obama said. "And I'm proud to be your Commander-in-Chief."

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Brian Montopoli is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of his posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[JKozlosky]

I was appalled when the President hugged Sergent Giunta. Military protocol demands a 'hand salute' to the medal holder without regard to rank. This includes the president as Commander in Chief, but of course I doubt any of the President's advisers have the slightest clue of military courtesy. Another dumb blunder to add to the president's long list.

[jmx24]

What a shame and disgust you have to make this extraordinary honor to one of our fine soldiers and turn it into your own political views against the president. Perhaps you missed the MOH awarding to MSG Roy P Benavidez by President Reagan in 1981. Reagan gave Benavidez a hug after placing the MOH around his neck. I'm appalled that you even had to go there

[scroonge]

SSgt Salvatore Giunta, thank God for men like you. Your bravery is an absolute gift from Him. The family of this dear soldier will not have to suffer the agony of not knowing where their son is. My son, Major Troy Gilbert, F-16 pilot was killed in Iraq. He saved 22 Delta Force soldiers who were in a grounded helicopter and were being attacked by Al Queda members. Troy was called in and responded with guns blazing toward trucks with mounted machine guns. The radio man called him back, and Troy lost his life on the second pass. My son was thrown 100 yds out of his jet, he did not eject. The collected DNA was buried in Arlington Cemetery. The rest of his body was stolen by Al Queda. He was shown on UTube, my daughter saw this and identified her brother. We have not yet received his remains and will never have peace until we do. Thank you for saving this agony from this soldier's family. For a human to care as much about another human being and put his life in harms way is the true act of a Godly, golden man. Oh how I wish Troy had his wingman that day. His wingman had gone to refuel and did not see what happened to his body. Pray that he will be returned to us someday. Thank you and pray for us. You are the epitomy of a GOLEN WINGMAN!
Kaye Gilbert (Troy's Mom)

[pggentrup]

Thank God for brave soldiers like Salvatore Giunta and the other men & women serving OUR great nation today and the VETERANS who have given & protected our freedoms. I watched Sal Giunta on several interviews and the one on David Letterman was outstanding. I salute Sal Giunta for his dedicated service and he'll be a great representative for the Medal of Honor. As a recipient of our nation's highest award for gallantry in action, Sal Giunta has a lot of responsibility and he understands that as the "caretaker" of this medal he will be in the spotlight. Along with the other 86 living recipients of the Medal of Honor he can stand proud as a TRUE AMERICAN HERO & PATRIOT. PG

[badcalorie]

It's sad that most of these comments are just political bicker. This young man should be held in the highest regard, no matter what President adorned him with these honors. I just watched him on the Colbert Report a minute ago and found him to be extremely humble and a great representative of all branches of the armed forces. What he did to help his fellow soldiers, represents the greatest good in humans, loyalty to his friends, family and country, despite the unfortunate situation he was faced with.

[1American]

Staff Sergeant Giunta, My hat is off to you. Thank you for your service to your Country and for your modesty.
1 American, USAF 1967 / 1971

[ouchitatom]

The awarding of this medalof honor started with his parents and the principals instilled him by them. This awarding also reflects the fact that the seregant listened tohis parents and learned from them. The awarding of this medal also reflects on the sergeants training and the peoplewhotrained him. and last but by far the least the awarding of this medal reflects the man as a american with love for his country his comrades and what is right and what has to be done and it was all done from a volunteer.I salute you sir!

[TCop]

Humility and strength. Two traits that should never go out of style.

[LIBERALS-lie]

dont turn your back on the "enemy"

[davelangton]

Sergeant Giunta,
I salute you.

[RobAla]

Thank you so much for your service.