Posted on 01/01/2011 1:55:33 PM PST by Pan_Yan
CHICAGO — It was years in the making, so Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta had time to talk with his wife about the "what if" question. He'd been recommended for the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration. If chosen, his name would be in headlines. His face in the spotlight. He'd be a celebrity.
And again and again, he'd have to tell strangers the harrowing story of a deadly ambush in Afghanistan.
"He was worried," says Giunta's wife, Jenny. "He didn't know how he was going able to talk to people about it. He couldn't even talk to me. He didn't even talk to his parents about it. How was he going to talk to the world about it? How was he going to be OK with telling his story?"
...
Giunta casts himself as an ambassador for everyone in uniform. Modestly, of course: "I'm representing so many people that I know for a fact are faster than me, smarter than me, stronger than me, braver than I am," he says.
...
"I've never seen anyone else asked what was the worst day in your life and let's break it down piece by piece and please go into detail," he says. "For some reason they continually ask me every single day and multiple times a day. Of course, it's difficult. I lost two very good friends that day. They mean absolutely everything (to me) and people brush by their names." ...
So in every appearance, he pivots from the Sal Giunta story to the bigger picture.
Americans "can live their lives unhampered by these wars because there are people . who will raise their right hand and say, 'I will go to war for my country,'" he says. "They're so fortunate and they don't even know it."
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
Btt.
tonight: National Geographic ch 8-10
Are we brave enough to watch what our heroes go through so we can sleep in a warm bed, (without having personally experienced the horrific scenes they have interrupting your rest for the rest of your life,) eat hot food, have a chair to sit in!, and enjoy the freedoms they guard for us?
Just a couple hours of our time - to get a glimpse of this 15 months in “The Most Dangerous Place on Earth” - and many of them just got back from another 12 months there.
Can we spare a couple hours in appreciation?
When you see a soldier, can you shake his hand. If you see a soldier in a restaurant, can you quietly pick up his tab?Can you send a box or a card to a soldier still out there?
You say: “I wish I could buy him a beer and not ask him one question.”
You wish to honor Sal? He’s tells you how. Honor each and every soldier you come across. (see my post at link below)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2650282/posts?page=22#22
:-) Thank you.
I just finished watching it.
Just damn.
Still brings tears to my eyes - even at the very end when that helicopter finally lifts off and takes them out of that hellhole - my dear grandson, who grew up in my home, was on that chopper - after 15 months.
He just got off his second tour there, 12 months - Pray his last.
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