Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;There was the sound of a single bullet, and then . . . a deafening barrage of gunfire and explosions. There were, literally, thousands of bullets in the air at once, and more tracers streaking across the sky than there were stars overhead. It was a miracle that most of us werenand#8217;t killed instantly.andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Staff Sergeant Salvatore, and#8220;Sal,and#8221; Giunta was the first living person to receive the Medal of Honorand#8212;the highest honor presented by the U.S. militaryand#8212;since the conclusion of the Vietnam War. In andlt;Iandgt;Living with Honor, andlt;/Iandgt;this hero who maintains he is and#8220;just a soldierand#8221; tells us the story of the fateful day in Afghanistan that led to his receiving the unique honor. With candor, insight, and humility, Giunta not only recounts the harrowing events leading up to when he and his company fell under siege, but also illustrates the empowering, invaluable lessons he learned. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;As a seventeen-year-old teen working at Subway, Giunta was like any other kid trying to figure out which step to take next with his life after graduating from high school. When Giunta walked into the local Army recruiting center in his hometown, he just wanted a free T-shirt. But when he walked out, his curiosity had been piqued and he enlisted in the Army. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Deployed to Afghanistan, Giunta soon learned from the more seasoned soldiers how and#8220;differentand#8221; this war was compared to others that America had fought. Stationed with the 173rd Airborne Brigade near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the Korengal Valleyand#8212; also known as the and#8220;Valley of Deathand#8221;and#8212;Giunta and his company were ambushed by Taliban insurgents. Giunta went into action after seeing that his squad leader had fallen. Exposing himself to blistering enemy fire, Giunta charged toward his squad leader and administered first aid while he covered him with his own body. Though Giunta was struck by the relentless barrage of bullets, he engaged the enemy and then attempted to reach additional wounded soldiers. When he realized that yet another soldier was separated from his unit, he advanced forward. Discovering two rebels carrying away a U.S. soldier, Giunta killed one insurgent and wounded the other, and immediately provided aid to the injured soldier. More than just a remarkable memoir by a remarkable person, andlt;Iandgt;Living with Honor andlt;/Iandgt;is a powerful testament to the human spirit and all that one can achieve when faced with seemingly impossible obstacles. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;*** andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The President clasps the medal around my neck. Applause fills the room. But I know itand#8217;s not for me alone. I look at my mom and dad. I look at Brennanand#8217;s parents and I look at Mendozaand#8217;s. And I try to communicate to Brennan and Mendoza wordlessly: andlt;Iandgt;This is for you . . . and for everyone who has fought and died. For everyone who has made the ultimate sacrifice. I am not a hero. Iand#8217;m just a soldier.andlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;Salvatore A. Giunta, from andlt;Iandgt;Living with Honorandlt;/Iandgt;
Review
"Candid, confessional...a simply told account that reminds us of the awesome weight accompanying this signal honor."
Review
andlt;xmlandgt; andlt;/xmlandgt;andlt;xmlandgt; andlt;/xmlandgt;and#8220;More than anything, itand#8217;s his genuineness and humility that will make you appreciate Giuntaand#8217;s spirit and his memoir. If we as a nation are still capable of producing young men like him, weand#8217;re doing okay.and#8221;
Review
"An adept observer of human nature, Giunta's portraits of his comrades-in-arms are full of wit and warmth about their foibles and admiration for their combat skills...With clarity and maturity, Giunta shows he understands the complexities of contemporary Afghan society."
Synopsis
A compelling memoir from a true hero--and one of the few living persons to ever be awarded the celebrated Medal of Honor.
There was the sound of a single bullet, and then . . . a deafening barrage of gunfire and explosions. There were, literally, thousands of bullets in the air at once, and more tracers streaking across the sky than there were stars overhead. It was a miracle that most of us weren't killed instantly.
Staff Sergeant Salvatore, "Sal," Giunta was the first living person to receive the Medal of Honor--the highest honor presented by the U.S. military--since the conclusion of the Vietnam War. In Living with Honor, this hero who maintains he is "just a soldier" tells us the story of the fateful day in Afghanistan that led to his receiving the unique honor. With candor, insight, and humility, Giunta not only recounts the harrowing events leading up to when he and his company fell under siege, but also illustrates the empowering, invaluable lessons he learned.
As a seventeen-year-old teen working at Subway, Giunta was like any other kid trying to figure out which step to take next with his life after graduating from high school. When Giunta walked into the local Army recruiting center in his hometown, he just wanted a free T-shirt. But when he walked out, his curiosity had been piqued and he enlisted in the Army.
Deployed to Afghanistan, Giunta soon learned from the more seasoned soldiers how "different" this war was compared to others that America had fought. Stationed with the 173rd Airborne Brigade near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the Korengal Valley-- also known as the "Valley of Death"--Giunta and his company were ambushed by Taliban insurgents. Giunta went into action after seeing that his squad leader had fallen. Exposing himself to blistering enemy fire, Giunta charged toward his squad leader and administered first aid while he covered him with his own body. Though Giunta was struck by the relentless barrage of bullets, he engaged the enemy and then attempted to reach additional wounded soldiers. When he realized that yet another soldier was separated from his unit, he advanced forward. Discovering two rebels carrying away a U.S. soldier, Giunta killed one insurgent and wounded the other, and immediately provided aid to the injured soldier. More than just a remarkable memoir by a remarkable person, Living with Honor is a powerful testament to the human spirit and all that one can achieve when faced with seemingly impossible obstacles.
***
The President clasps the medal around my neck. Applause fills the room. But I know it's not for me alone. I look at my mom and dad. I look at Brennan's parents and I look at Mendoza's. And I try to communicate to Brennan and Mendoza wordlessly: This is for you . . . and for everyone who has fought and died. For everyone who has made the ultimate sacrifice. I am not a hero. I'm just a soldier.
--Salvatore A. Giunta, from Living with Honor
Synopsis
A compelling memoir from a true hero—and one of the few living persons to ever be awarded the celebrated Medal of Honor.Sal Giunta was just a regular kid from Iowa when he enlisted in the army to figure out what to do with his life. He never thought that a few tours of duty later, he would be the first living person since the Vietnam War to be awarded the esteemed Medal of Honor.
First stationed in Italy and then deployed into Afghanistan, Giunta had a firsthand perspective of the ground war and its daily difficulties—some quotidian in nature, some anything but. He and around 150 of his company were stationed in the dangerous Korengal Valley in 2007, where some of the most intense fighting in the war had taken place. Giunta called it, “basically hell on earth.”
Late one night in October of 2007, Giunta’s company embarked on a sting operation into the Taliban’s forces. They were ambushed on a rugged mountain path by twenty insurgents. Giunta sprang into action and with little regard for his own safety, he withstood enemy fire to administer medical aid to his wounded fellow soldiers—even rescuing one soldier who was being carried away by the insurgents—until his squad reached safety.
For the unrivaled bravery and selflessness of his actions, Giunta was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Obama. In this fascinating and riveting memoir, he depicts the realities of war, as well as the moment-by-moment details of the event that earned him the nation’s highest distinction.
About the Author
andlt;Bandgt;Salvatore A. Giunta andlt;/Bandgt;retired from active duty in 2011. Prior to that, he was responsible for the health, welfare, morale, training, and accountability of the soldiers in his company in the Army, working to ensure all unit family members were well taken care of while their spouses were deployed in Afghanistan. He is one of the few living persons to ever be awarded the Medal of Honor, and he was presented the award by President Obama in a White House ceremony on November 16, 2010. Giunta has also received numerous other commendations, including the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and the Purple Heart. He lives in Colorado with his wife, Jen, and their daughter.andlt;i andgt;andlt;/iandgt;Joe Layden has authored or coauthored more than thirty books, including multipleandlt;iandgt; New York Timesandlt;/iandgt; bestsellers.