VICENZA, Italy - More than five months after the announcement that he would be the nation’s first living Medal of Honor recipient from the current war in Afghanistan and more than three years after his heroic actions in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley earned him the military’s highest decoration for valor, Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta said farewell in a ceremony here, March 7.

“Lately I’ve been able to stand up front of a lot of people and say a whole lot of things. But to stand up in this room today and to know the 173rd has been my family for the last seven years and Battle Company has been my home, it really means the world to me to be able to stand here among the people that I’m so privileged to serve with,” Giunta said.

During the ceremony, Giunta was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal for his service in the Army by Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, commander, U.S. Army Africa. Also, three plaques detailing Giunta’s actions October 25, 2007, were unveiled and will hang in the battalion and brigade headquarters buildings as well as the post’s Hall of Heroes.

“Right now there are currently 70 soldiers represented in the Hall of Heroes,” said Hogg. “Twenty-eight of those that are represented in the Hall of Heroes were killed in actions for the award for which they were honored.”

“Staff Sergeant Giunta is going to be part of this unique group of warriors and heroes who will be part of our Army legacy to our future generation of soldiers who will use you as an example of what it means to have pride, standards, determination, courage under fires and most importantly, a representative of what the professionalism of being an American soldier is all about,” he said.

“Staff Sergeant Giunta we acknowledge your courage, your sacrifice and we thank you for being a soldier,” he added. “Know that your heroic actions on 25th of October in 2007 in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan will be forever remembered within our community and within our Army.”

In front of a crowd that included the soldiers of Battle Company, Hogg, battalion, brigade and garrison commanders, Giunta assured those present that he would never forget his service or the people he served with and thanked the people that helped make a small post in Italy feel like home.

“I will tell everyone about these experiences,” he said. “Not this one individual experiences, but the experiences that I’ve had in the United States military, that I’ve had in Battle Company and that I’ve had in the 173rd.”

“I want all of you to know it’s my honor to be with you, and to be part of this great unit and to be part of this opportunity to serve with each other for the greater good of all,” he added. “I’ll be forever proud of that.”

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