Army SSgt. 
Salvatore A. Giunta on Tuesday received the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, from President Obama during a White House ceremony. Giunta is the first living MOH recipient since the Vietnam War. Obama called Giunta “a soldier as humble as he is heroic,” in recognizing him for his gallantry and intrepidity after his patrol was ambushed in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley on Oct. 25, 2007. Giunta, a native of Hiawatha, Iowa, was a specialist and just 22 years old at the time. “Staff Sergeant Giunta, repeatedly and without hesitation, you charged forward through extreme enemy fire,” stated Obama. He continued, “Your actions disrupted a devastating ambush before it could claim more lives. Your courage prevented the capture of an American soldier and brought that soldier back to his family.” The President added: “[W]hen you meet Sal and you meet his family, you are just absolutely convinced that this is what America is all about. And it just makes you proud.” (Obama remarks) (White House blog entry with video of the ceremony) (See also our previous coverage: Airborne Soldier to be Awarded MOH) (See also AFPS report by Karen Parrish)
Airman Charged in M18 Death Found Dead
Oct. 27, 2025
The Airman arrested in connection with the M18 pistol discharge that killed a fellow member of Air Force security forces on July 20 in Wyoming was found dead earlier this month, an Air Force spokesperson confirmed.
