Oliver North: What Are They Thinking? (SSgt. Giunta, MOH Recipient)

Creators Syndicate ^ | November 18, 2010 | Oliver North

[jazusamo]

MIDLAND, Texas — A decade ago, I was hunting not far from here with my now-departed friend Joe Foss, the World War II Marine fighter ace and Medal of Honor recipient. I made an impatient long-range shot at a fast-moving deer — and missed the target. Joe shook his head, looked at me and said, "What were you thinking?" Joe's challenge came to mind repeatedly this week during interviews about my new book, "American Heroes in Special Operations." Almost invariably, young reporters asked a question or two about the best-selling book and then shifted to queries about events during the Reagan administration. Finally, they got around to what was really on their minds, the hot story of the day: "Do you have any comment on Prince William's engagement to Kate Middleton?" Now, I have to admit that I suffer from what my kids call "cultural-deficit disorder," or CDD. The first time I was asked about the royal nuptials, my feeble response was: "Who?" When the reporter explained that Princess Diana's eldest son, William, had just announced his betrothal to a "commoner," my response was even worse: "Who cares?" It didn't take long to learn that was the wrong answer. Apparently, everyone in the media cares about it. By the time we re-boarded the book tour bus, the royal engagement was the lead story on every network and newswire. It dominated the blogosphere. And the next day, it was in every newspaper — local and nationwide. Photos of the attractive couple were everywhere. It all brought to mind the question Joe Foss put to me: "What were you thinking?" "If it bleeds, it leads" is a canon of today's mass media, so bad news usually trumps good news for editors and producers. But this week proves there is an even more powerful maxim: "Trivial celebrity news beats all." The carefully choreographed royal pronouncement pushed at least two other events — far more important to Americans — well into the background of U.S. print and broadcast media. The English engagement eclipsed coverage of the Medal of Honor presentation for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta. He's but the eighth recipient of our nation's highest award for valor "above and beyond the call of duty" in the war against radical Islam. The Iowa soldier's combination of courage, humility and self-sacrifice make a compelling narrative. Yet, thanks to our media's infatuation with the rich and famous, we now know more about a British prince's fiancee than we do about one of our bravest and brightest countrymen. Those who want to know more about what Giunta did to become the only living recipient of the Medal of Honor in this nine-year war should visit http://www.FreedomAlliance.org. The masters of the mainstream media also chose the British monarchy over another all-American story: the successful extradition from Bangkok of notorious Russian Viktor Bout, an accused gunrunner. The former Soviet air force officer is accused of running a high-tech illicit arms delivery service for despots and terrorists around the world. For two years, Moscow waged a sub rosa fight to prevent the Thai government from turning Bout over to U.S. justice. How he was apprehended in a Drug Enforcement Administration sting operation, was taken into custody and arrived here Tuesday night to face U.S. justice is more exciting than a John le Carre novel. But it lost out to the sappy story of how William toted around Princess Diana's ring before popping the question to his soon-to-be. This week's shallow coverage of a living Medal of Honor recipient and the intriguing story of how brave DEA agents captured a major crime figure accused of aiding and abetting murder and mayhem on a global scale doesn't come as a surprise. What passes for "reporting the news" these days would shame any real newsman. Perhaps that's the principal reason newspapers lose circulation every day and viewers have largely turned off the evening news on the "big three" networks. The inability or unwillingness of the mainstream media to cover and report that which really matters to Americans begs the question: "What are they thinking?" Maybe they aren't.

[jazusamo]

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ARMY SSGT SALVATORE GIUNTA
MEDAL OF HONOR Recipient
Afghanistan War

[yarddog]

I have never been in the military and am a bit curious. What are those badges or medals? What do they mean?

[jazusamo]

OLIVER NORTH PING!

Please Freepmail me to be added to the Ollie North ping list.

[The KG9 Kid]

Meanwhile here on FR, thousands and thousands of replies have been made to daily 'That Contrail Was A Chinese Missile!' threads, yet I only counted three threads about SSgt. Salvatore Giunta's Tuesday ceremony where he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

The most active Giunta thread had 17 replies.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

My husband says that he thinks the medal on his right side is an airborne parachute wing ribbon? Looks like there’s an expert marksman ribbon, infantry, and various service ribbons. Someone will probably need to correct me on this.

[yarddog]

The “expert marksman” medal is the only one I would have guessed. My Father had one from WWII which was at least similar.

[Joe 6-pack]

You can go to the Army Heraldry Institute:

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/

It will explain all his ribbons, qualification badges, etc.

The only one you won't find there are the foreign jump wings worn on his right breast, which in his case are Italian, and presumably earned while stationed in Vicenza with the 173rd.

[ridesthemiles]

I just love Oliver North!!!!

I would make him & his family dinner anytime they wanted to sit at my table..

It would be a proviledge just to talk to him for an evening.

[ridesthemiles]

I just love Oliver North!!!!

I would make him & his family dinner anytime they wanted to sit at my table..

It would be a priviledge just to talk to him for an evening.

[jazusamo]

The medal above his ribbons is the Combat Infantryman’s Badge (blue w/silver wreath and rifle), awarded for being an Army Infantryman in armed combat.

The ribbons signify various things. The silver medal w/ cross and wreath closest to his SSgt. stripes is a marksmanship medal. The silver medal w/wings and parachute on right breast is self explanatory.

Go to my home page and scroll to near the bottom, click on the several medals there including the MOH and there will be explanations. Also click on Audie Murphy’s awards link and many more will be explained.

[Jumper]

You are correct that these are in fact foreign jump wings. His US parachutist badge is sitting on his left inner breast pocket flap over his unit’s background. A fine young trooper.

[jazusamo]

I hear you, and the coverage in the enemedia was pathetic.

[jazminerose]

Dittos!

What ever happened to Fawn Hall?

[Lancey Howard]

Wow! Great column by Ollie.
I wouldn’t know Prince William or Kate Middleman if they threw up on my shoes at a Taco Bell. And that’s exactly the way I like it. In fact, I’d be happy to bowl the two of them over in order to get to SSgt. Giunta so I could shake his hand.

[jazusamo]

Sorry, my post #10 was for you, yarddog.

[mollynme]

The former Soviet air force officer is accused of running a high-tech illicit arms delivery service for despots and terrorists around the world. For two years, Moscow waged a sub rosa fight to prevent the Thai government from turning Bout over to U.S. justice. How he was apprehended in a Drug Enforcement Administration sting operation, was taken into custody and arrived here Tuesday night to face U.S. justice is more exciting than a John le Carre novel.

That does sound interesting. Did anyone hear even a peep about that in the news? I hope someone writes a book about it someday.

[jazusamo]

I couldn’t agree with you more, Lancey! :-)

[Keith in Iowa]

He shares a hometown with Mr. Demi Moore.

[miele man]

I’ve been out of the Army for far too long to know what some of the ribbons are, but will give you some idea of what most are.

Right pocket: Lowest insignia is the standard for the 173rd Airborne Brigade. A very highly decorated unit.

The Red and Blue ribbons above are Presidential Unit Citations.

The Blue cord on his right shoulder is the color for Infantry branch.

On his left pocket:
First two rows are campaign and service medals for (most likely since I’m not positive on these) Iraq and Afghanistan.
3rd row ribbons moving from arm toward midline are:
National Defense medal, Good Conduct and ???
4th row, Army Commendation medal (2 awards), Purple Heart and I think the Meritorious Service Medal (can’t see it).
On top is the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB)awarded only to men who’ve been in actual combat for 30 consecutive days or more (or so it used to be).
The Medal of Honor will be placed on the very top of his ribbons on the left pocket, but under the CIB.
Hope this helps.

[yarddog]

Thank you.