Posted on 11/21/2010 4:11:00 AM PST by billorites
In a White House ceremony last Tuesday, Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta was given the Medal of Honor. He was the first living Medal of Honor recipient since Vietnam. The event was televised, as it should have been, but hardly anyone noticed. Much of the world, including a disappointingly large portion of America, was consumed with other news: A prince had gotten engaged.
The dashing Prince William, son of the Prince of Wales, announced his engagement on the same day Sal Giunta received the Medal of Honor for valor in Afghanistan. So much for Giunta's glory.
Incidentally, two days later, on Thursday, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the United Kingdom would remove all of its troops from Afghanistan by 2015 no matter the conditions on the ground. Nice timing, Mr. Prime Minister.
Times are tough, and people need some distractions to cheer them up. A royal engagement seems to do the trick for many. Maybe a reminder, via a warrior's recognition, that things are even tougher on the other side of the world isn't what a lot of people want right now.
Still, it would have been nice for Staff Sgt. Giunta to have received more attention in this country than did the prince of the country from which men like Giunta fought to free us all those years ago. Giunta's heroism deserved more than a flicker of notice.
During a 2007 patrol in the most dangerous valley in Afghanistan, his platoon was ambushed. The two lead men were shot. Giunta, hit twice himself, but not wounded (one bullet hit his body armor, the other a weapon he carried), advanced directly into enemy fire to save his comrades.
He and another soldier got to the first downed man. Giunta left them and went after the other. He crested a hill and saw two enemy fighters dragging away one of his best friends. He shot both of the attackers, killing one and wounding the other. He then grabbed his friend by the vest and dragged him to cover, where he kept the wounded soldier alive for half an hour until medics arrived.
By contrast, Prince William asked a beautiful woman to marry him. Having been asked by a prince, she said yes. Riveting, no?
It's a sad commentary on the juvenile voyeurism of so many Americans that the latter story would attract so much more attention than the former. Not that Staff Sgt. Giunta wants the attention.
He just wants back his two friends who died in that fight. Apparently, though, the drama found in such real-life herosim is not enough of a tear-jerker to make most Americans take notice.
The issue isn’t largely the American people, it is this president who actively hates the military and to whom people aren’t interested in listening to, and the slavishly fawning media that is only interested in how Bush got us into this ‘un-funded war’.
Most people don’t want to see a phony like Obama pretend to care about this man and his dead comrades while he is in front of the cameras.
And I am irritated by the tone of this editorialist who wants to heap the blame for this sorry situation on the sheeple who tune into his medium, but not even a mention of his medium.
How I detest that nest of rats.
I don’t buy it.
Two completely seperate events. Our young hero got plenty of coverage.
I thought so too. Both in press and on TV.
Certainly wish only the best for the royals as well. Or at least a happier marriage than the wacky parents had.
Giunta returns to home state for Des Moines ceremony, Hiawatha parade
God bless him! :)
This article is once again written like the author is in the 7th grade. Like 99% of lefty journalists they bash “We the People” in order to make his point. He is mixing apples and oranges with Prince William story and this wonderful Medal of Honor winner. I saw this outstanding, brave young man and his wife on Fox & Friends being interviewed. WHAT an amazing man and an even more amazing attitude.
The problem with watching the ceremony is this. Most of us have a job - we weren’t home. Secondly, I CANNOT stand to watch this president on TV, on a good day, but for a president who outwardly dispises the military, is at every turn trying to tear down this country, disasemble our great nation. THAT is the problem here. Most of us can’t stand to watch the man. I have relatives currently serving and it’s frightening to me to think Obama is in charge right now.
Where do we find such brave young men to defend this country with an all volunteer Military? You just saw one. Amazing young, humble gentleman.
The author of this article needs to get out of his liberal cocoon a little more before he starts insulting The People. The day after Sgt Giunta received his medal, everyone in my office was talking about it and not one word was said about Prince Whoever getting engaged to Whatshername.
We also talked at length about other MOH recipients by name. I wonder if the author can name 10 other MOH recipients?
The flip side might be Brian Williams’ NBC interview with Prince Charles. If ever there were a more confused and twisted outlook on the world, this Windsor has it...
Brian Williams is still on TV? Its been years since I’ve watched news on his network.
It was just a photo op for Barry.
“It was just a photo op for Barry...”
I agree. I watched it on television UNTIL the part where the president puts the medal on the soldier. I changed channels. Not due to any disrespect to this brave man but I cannot watch the POTUS pretend to honor any man or woman of military service. It was a farce to me. With respect to William’s engagement... we have bigger fish to fry thank you very much. Don’t know them, don’t care. Just a thought.
who... me??? 
‘I give their marriage seven years!’ Fury at bishop’s slur on ‘shallow’ Royal couple
This ‘Holy man’ has cojones. He says he is a ‘republican’.
I don’t know about the coverage of this young man...I know that I heard about it, but that is because I’m a Freeper and pay attention to these things. I don’t know how it is for people who get all their news from the dead-stream media.
What irritated me was this editorial, speaking of the issue as though they were completely divorced from it.
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