[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 837]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 3--HONORING THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF 
 STAFF SERGEANT SALVATORE GIUNTA, A NATIVE OF HIAWATHA, IOWA, AND THE 
   FIRST LIVING RECIPIENT OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR SINCE THE VIETNAM WAR

  Mr. HARKIN (for himself and Mr. Grassley) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                             S. Con. Res. 3

       Whereas Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta of the United 
     States Army, a native of Hiawatha, Iowa, was awarded the 
     Medal of Honor by President Obama on November 16, 2010;
       Whereas the Medal of Honor is the highest honor awarded to 
     members of the Armed Forces for valor in combat;
       Whereas the official citation awarding the Medal of Honor 
     to Staff Sergeant Giunta states that Staff Sergeant Giunta 
     ``distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and 
     intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call 
     of duty in action with an armed enemy in the Korengal Valley, 
     Afghanistan, on October 25, 2007'';
       Whereas Staff Sergeant Giunta joins an elite group of Medal 
     of Honor recipients dating back to the Civil War;
       Whereas the production and distribution of a medal of honor 
     recognizing individual valor was first proposed by a fellow 
     Iowan, Senator James W. Grimes, and the Secretary of the Navy 
     was authorized to award the first ``medals of honor'' under 
     section 7 of the Act of December 21, 1861 (12 Stat. 330; 
     chapter I);
       Whereas Staff Sergeant Giunta is the first living recipient 
     of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War;
       Whereas Staff Sergeant Giunta displayed true courage in the 
     face of enemy fire, risking his own life for the benefit of 
     an injured soldier;
       Whereas the actions of Staff Sergeant Giunta represent the 
     highest values of the Army and the United States;
       Whereas Staff Sergeant Giunta has demonstrated humility and 
     dedication to his fellow soldiers on numerous occasions, 
     stating that the Medal of Honor does not belong to him alone, 
     but also to his fellow soldiers, both living and dead, for 
     whom he holds the Medal of Honor in trust; and
       Whereas the brave actions of Staff Sergeant Giunta, which 
     went above and beyond the call of duty, as well as the 
     modesty and selfless service exhibited by Staff Sergeant 
     Giunta, stand as the embodiment of the best attributes of the 
     people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) honors the service and sacrifice of Staff Sergeant 
     Salvatore Giunta of the United States Army, who is the first 
     living recipient of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War; 
     and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to recognize 
     the valor and heroism exhibited by Staff Sergeant Giunta.

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