The events -- selfless valor, heroism, and comradeship in the face of death --and the life of that platoon in Afghanistan is discussed in detail in Sebastian Junger's War, as well as being discussed in the documentary that Junger did with Tim Heterington, RESTOPO. Frankly, the Huffington Post article doesn't come close to describing what happened. Frankly, neither does Junger -- however, Staff Sergeant Sal Giunta, the first Medal of Honor winner since Vietnam to receive the award alive described the ambush to Junger this way in WAR--
"I did what I did because that's what I was trained to do," Giunta told me. "There was a task that had to be done, and the part that I was going to do was to link alpha and bravo teams. I didn't run through fire to save a buddy -- I ran through fire to see what was going on with him and maybe we could hide behind the same rock and shoot together. I didn't run thourgh fire to do anything heroic or brave. I did what I believe anyone would have done."
SSG Giunta probably actually thinks that. He'll think that for the remainder of his career, the remainder of his life. But, in this case, what he did transcends what some "anyone" would have done. He did it. Those who seek glory in battle usually get other people killed; those who seek to save their brothers and sisters often do. He's a helluva soldier, and will deserve the salute he's entitled to from every member of the Armed Forces for the remainder of his life.
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