8/7/2019 Medal of Honor - Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta -
Official Narrative
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Citation
OfficialNarrative
OnOct.25,2007,Spc.SalvatoreA.Giuntasplatoonwasconductingamovementtocontacttointerdict
enemyforcesontheGatigalSpur,inordertoprovideoverwatchfor2ndand3
rdplatoonsexfilbackto
CombatOutpostVimot,andtheKorengalOutpost.Whileconductingtheirexfilfromtheplatoons
blockingposition,Spc.Giuntasplatoonwasambushedby10to15enemypersonnelwhoutilizedanL
shaped,nearambushthatwaswithin10metersoftheplatoonsmainbody.Theenemyfired10Rocket
PropelledGrenades(RPGs)andthreePKMs(machineguns)fromtheapexoftheambushandadditional
AK47sfromthroughouttheambushline.
TheenemyinitiatedthecontactwithanRPGandaburstofPKM(fire),whichimmediatelyhitand
woundedtwomembersoftheleadteam,Sgt.BrennanandSpc.Eckrode.AnotherRPGintheinitial
volleyhitextremelyclosetoSpc.Giuntasposition.WhileStaffSgt.GallardomovedbacktohisBravo
Teamtogetsituationreports,Spc.Giuntaprovidedcoveringfirebyleadinghisteaminsuppressing
enemypositions,assigningsectorsoffireandcommandinghisM203gunnertoengageclosetargets.
WhileadvancingtowardSpc.Giuntasteam,StaffSgt.GallardowasstruckinthehelmetbyanAK47
round,whichcausedhimtofalltotheground.DespitebeingunderheavyfirebyPKM,RPG,andsmall
arms,Spc.Giuntaimmediatelylefthiscoveredpositioninordertorenderaidtohissquadleader.Ashe
movedtoprovideassistance,Spc.Giuntawasstruckbytwobullets;oneofwhichimpactedhischest
areabutwasstoppedbyhisEnhancedSmallArmsProtectiveInsert(ESAPI)plate,andoneroundwhich
impactedtheShoulderLaunchedMultipurposeAssaultWeaponD(SMAWD)rockethewascarrying
acrosshisback.Withouthesitation,Spc.Giuntarecoveredfromtheimpactsandensuredhissquad
leaderwasnotinjured.Hethenbeganboundinghisteamforwardinanattempttomaneuveronthe
enemy.
Spc.Giuntaandhisfireteamwerequicklypinneddownbyeffectiveenemymachinegunandsmallarms
firefrommultiplepositionsatcloserange.Spc.Giunta,alongwithPfc.ClaryandStaffSgt.Gallardo,
quicklypreparedfragmentationgrenadesandcontinuedtheassaultbythrowingtwovolleysofthemat
enemypositionsthatwereapproximately15meterstotheirwest.Theythenassaultedforwardthrough
thosepositions,securedSpc.Eckrode,andbegantreatinghiswounds.RealizingthatSgt.Brennanwas
missing,Pfc.ClaryandSpc.Giuntacontinuedtopushforwardalongtheenemysexfiltrationroute,
despitetakingsmallarmsfirefromenemypersonnelwhowereattemptingtocovertheirwithdrawal.
Movingintheleadandrapidlyclosingwiththeenemy,despitereceivingeffectivefire,Spc.Giunta
overtooktwoenemycombatantsattemptingtodragoffSgt.Brennan,whohadbeenincapacitatedby
hiswounds.Spc.Giuntaengagedoneenemycombatantatcloserangeandkilledhim,whichcausethe
otherenemycombatanttodropSgt.Brennanandflee.Spc.Giuntathenbeganimmediatefirstaidon
Sgt.Brennan,andalsohelpedhissquadleadertoadjustsecurity,furtherconsolidatecasualties,and
prepareforMedicalEvacuationoperations.
8/7/2019 Medal of Honor - Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta -
Official Narrative
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Spc.Giuntasselflessactionsandpersonalcouragewerethedecisivefactorsinchangingthetideofthe
battle,ensuringthatSgt.Brennanwasnotcapturedbytheenemy,andpreventingtheleadfireteam
frombeingdestroyedbytheenemysnearambush.Despitebulletsimpactingonandaroundhimself,
Spc.Giuntafearlesslyadvancedontheenemyandprovidedaidtohisfallencomrades.Hisactions
savedthelivesofmultipleparatroopersandchangedthecourseofthebattleinhisplatoonsfavor.
ForexceptionallyvalorousactionsduringOperationEnduringFreedomVIIIwhileassignedasarifleteam
leaderinBattleCompany,2ndBattalion(Airborne),503
rdInfantry.Spc.Giuntasunwaveringcourage,
aggressiveness,selflessservice,andleadershipwhileunderextremeenemyfireweredecisiveinhis
platoonachievingfiresuperiority,defeatinganenemynearambush,andpreventingthecaptureofa
fellowparatrooperbytheenemy.Hisactionsreflectgreatcredituponhimself,theRockBattalion,the
BayonetBrigadeCombatTeam,CombinedJointTaskForce82,andtheUnitedStatesArmy.
