Living with Honor: A Memoir

Giunta, Sal, Layden, Joe

ISBN 10: 1451691467 / ISBN 13: 9781451691467

Published by Threshold Editions, 2012

A sound copy with only light wear. Overall a solid copy at a great price!9780679733768. Seller Inventory # BOS-G-07d-02025

Synopsis:

A compelling memoir from a true hero—and one of the few living persons to ever be awarded the celebrated Medal of Honor.

There was the sound of a single bullet, and then . . . a deafening barrage of gunfire and explosions. There were, literally, thousands of bullets in the air at once, and more tracers streaking across the sky than there were stars overhead. It was a miracle that most of us weren’t killed instantly.

Staff Sergeant Salvatore, “Sal,” Giunta was the first living person to receive the Medal of Honor—the highest honor presented by the U.S. military—since the conclusion of the Vietnam War. In Living with Honor, this hero who maintains he is “just a soldier” tells us the story of the fateful day in Afghanistan that led to his receiving the unique honor. With candor, insight, and humility, Giunta not only recounts the harrowing events leading up to when he and his company fell under siege, but also illustrates the empowering, invaluable lessons he learned.

As a seventeen-year-old teen working at Subway, Giunta was like any other kid trying to figure out which step to take next with his life after graduating from high school. When Giunta walked into the local Army recruiting center in his hometown, he just wanted a free T-shirt. But when he walked out, his curiosity had been piqued and he enlisted in the Army.

Deployed to Afghanistan, Giunta soon learned from the more seasoned soldiers how “different” this war was compared to others that America had fought. Stationed with the 173rd Airborne Brigade near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the Korengal Valley— also known as the “Valley of Death”—Giunta and his company were ambushed by Taliban insurgents. Giunta went into action after seeing that his squad leader had fallen. Exposing himself to blistering enemy fire, Giunta charged toward his squad leader and administered first aid while he covered him with his own body. Though Giunta was struck by the relentless barrage of bullets, he engaged the enemy and then attempted to reach additional wounded soldiers. When he realized that yet another soldier was separated from his unit, he advanced forward. Discovering two rebels carrying away a U.S. soldier, Giunta killed one insurgent and wounded the other, and immediately provided aid to the injured soldier. More than just a remarkable memoir by a remarkable person, Living with Honor is a powerful testament to the human spirit and all that one can achieve when faced with seemingly impossible obstacles.

***

The President clasps the medal around my neck. Applause fills the room. But I know it’s not for me alone. I look at my mom and dad. I look at Brennan’s parents and I look at Mendoza’s. And I try to communicate to Brennan and Mendoza wordlessly: This is for you . . . and for everyone who has fought and died. For everyone who has made the ultimate sacrifice. I am not a hero. I’m just a soldier.

—Salvatore A. Giunta, from Living with Honor

Review: "More than anything, it's his genuineness and humility that will make you appreciate Giunta's spirit and his memoir. If we as a nation are still capable of producing young men like him, we're doing okay."--Time Magazine

"Candid, confessional...a simply told account that reminds us of the awesome weight accompanying this signal honor."--Kirkus Reviews

"An adept observer of human nature, Giunta's portraits of his comrades-in-arms are full of wit and warmth about their foibles and admiration for their combat skills...With clarity and maturity, Giunta shows he understands the complexities of contemporary Afghan society."--Publishers Weekly

More than anything, it s his genuineness and humility that will make you appreciate Giunta s spirit and his memoir. If we as a nation are still capable of producing young men like him, we re doing okay. --Time Magazine"

Bibliographic Details

Title: Living with Honor: A Memoir
Publisher: Threshold Editions
Publication Date: 2012
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good