WSB Exclusive Speaker
First Living Medal of Honor Recipient Since the Vietnam War, Author
Saving his squad from the Taliban during a deadly ambush in Afghanistan, Sal Giunta shares—with unassuming humility—his courageous story and the importance of teamwork, selflessness and leadership.
A valiant leader, former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Sal Giunta was introduced by President Barack Obama as being “as humble as he is courageous” when he was presented with our nation’s highest military decoration—The Medal of Honor—for his heroic actions during combat in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan. After Giunta’s unit was ambushed and pinned down by at least a dozen Taliban fighters, who fired shots from two sides simultaneously at close range, Giunta was hit twice while running into enemy fire to pull his fellow soldiers to cover. After insurgents began carrying away a fellow soldier, Giunta engaged the enemy, provided medical aid to his wounded comrade and ultimately saved a soldier from being taken by the enemy. His courage and leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to the team’s survival and led to his selection of being the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. He would later bequeath his Medal of Honor to his brigade, stating that it doesn’t belong to him alone, but to all the men and women who served alongside him. A true American hero and the author of Living with Honor (2012), Giunta inspires audiences with his story of unwavering courage, dedicated teamwork and decisive leadership.
While conducting a patrol as team leader, Sal Giunta and his team were navigating through the treacherous terrain of Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley when they were ambushed by a well-armed and well-coordinated insurgent force. Even under intense fire, Giunta boldly advanced to fight the enemy, administering first aid to his wounded squad leader and saving another solider from being carried away by the Taliban. His heroic actions earned him the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration that was awarded by President Barack Obama. In this moving presentation, Sal Giunta speaks about the importance of teamwork, service before self and leadership in the face of overwhelming circumstances. Cited for saving the lives of his squad, Giunta’s life-or-death acts are an inspirational account of a true American hero.
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