Supporting All Our Troops
When I was 17 years old I was exposed to the world of the Marine Corps. Talking to Marines and hearing their stories, my mind was set on becoming one of them. While at Boot Camp, one of the most important lessons I was taught was that medals are not something you win – they are something that you humbly receive.
Years later, a story that has stuck with me is the story of Corporal Jason Dunham; the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor in the Iraq war and the first Medal of Honor given for combat action since 1970. In 2004, 22-year-old Corporal Dunham used his Kevlar and body to cover a grenade an Iraqi insurgent had dropped near three fellow Marines. While others sustained some injury, Corporal Dunham made the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of the service members around him.
It was announced today that President Obama will present the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta. In 2007 then Specialist Giunta, 22, risked his life amid enemy fire in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan to protect seven fellow squad members during an ambush that separated his squad. During the ambush he helped bring a soldier to safety and then while two insurgents were attempting to carry away another fellow service member, Giunta, through grenade explosions and gunfire, killed one insurgent and injured the other in order to rescue that individual. Specialist Giunta’s valor helped bring his squad back together and quite possibly saved the lives of its members, who might have been seriously injured if not killed had they remained separated from the group.
While the Medal of Honor is many times presented posthumously, Giunta will be the first living service member to receive the honor since the Vietnam War.
Staff Sergeant Giunta is noted saying “I did what I believe anyone would have done.” On this ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, his courage and commitment are reminders of the sacrifices that all our patriots make every day – including those who serve under the forced silence of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” During the two current overseas conflicts that have lasted nine years and are still going on today, our government should honor every service member, every veteran, and every individual willing to join the armed services, regardless of their sexual orientation.
09-11-10 By Danny Hernandez, former Marine Lance Corporal |
1 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.Mike in Albuquerque on September 11, 2010 at 10.41 am
As we remember how our nation was attacked by forces of hatred and intolerance on 9/11, let us also remember that we as GLBTQ veterans are at the forefront of the fight in our own country to eliminate that same form of hatred and intolerance. God bless.