Day 64 Dad

“Conspicuous gallantry performed above and beyond the call of duty”, this is part of the prerequisites for the nation’s highest military combat honor, aptly deemed the “Medal of Honor”. SSG Salvatore Giunta who served two tours in Afghanistan with the 2nd Bn of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team (the brigade that Zach serves with) is going to be presented with the MOH in an October 6th ceremony. As a 22 year old specialist he ran into a wall of bullets to save the lives of two of his fellow soldiers. One of the soldiers was being carried off by taliban members who he killed and then pulled the wounded soldier back to safety. While the soldier eventually died of his wounds his family was grateful that his body could come home for final rest. The actions of SSG Giunta on that day 2 years ago resulted in his then Company Commander to recommend him for the award.

22 years old, and he acted with complete disregard for his own safety to save the lives of his brother’s in arms. I am so glad that he is getting this award as it is so rightly earned, and I hope that it is covered by the media. To quote a politician “This is a big F#@$ing deal!” I wonder how many more acts of incredible heroism are performed by our military members and that are never recognized other than by a few people who are there. We as civilians may never know the true extent of the sacrifice of our brave people in uniform. We can only be thankful that they are willing to make that sacrifice for freedom and for our nation. It is the individual who has made this nation great and free and as long as we have those who are willing to be that buffer between freedom and tyranny, between the light and the darkness then we will always be great.

Thank you to all who have served in our military, all who have raised that right hand to protect our nation against all enemies foreign and domestic.

Zach you are my hero, you are superman, I love you bud.