Updated: Friday, 10 Sep 2010, 10:24 AM EDT
Published : Friday, 10 Sep 2010, 10:24 AM EDT

By NewsCore

The White House said Friday that President Obama will award the Medal of Honor to the first living service member to receive the distinction for service in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The president told Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta on Thursday that he would be awarded the medal for "acts of gallantry at the risk of his life that went above and beyond the call of duty." Obama thanked Sergeant Giunta for his service and extraordinary bravery.

Sergeant Giunta served as a rifle team leader during combat operations against an armed enemy in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan in October 2007.

According to the White House press release, Giunta's "courage and leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his platoon's ability to defeat an enemy ambush."

The date and time of the ceremony will be released at a later date.

The White House said Friday that the President Obama will award the Medal of Honor to the first living service member to receive the distinction for service in Iraq or Afghanistan.

the first living service member to receive the distinction for service in Iraq or Afghanistan.



Sergeant Giunta

President Obama

When an insurgent force ambush split Specialist Giunta's squad into two
groups, he exposed himself to enemy fire to pull a comrade back to
cover. Later, while engaging the enemy and attempting to link up with
the rest of his squad, Specialist Giunta noticed two insurgents carrying
away a fellow soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy, killing one
and wounding the other, and provided medical aid to his wounded comrade
while the rest of his squad caught up and provided security.  His
courage and leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to
his platoon's ability defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow
American paratrooper from enemy hands.