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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowan will become the first living service member from the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq to receive the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor.
The White House says 25-year-old Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, of Hiawatha, was serving as a rifle team leader in Afghanistan when his platoon came under attack in 2007.
The White House says Giunta went beyond the call of duty when he exposed himself to enemy fire to pull a soldier back to cover. He also shot two insurgents after seeing them try to carry away a U.S. soldier.
Giunta's father, Steven Giunta, tells The Associated Press that he and Giunta's mother are proud of their son but the honor is bittersweet because other soldiers died in the attack.
Giunta is now stationed in Italy.
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