Living with Honor

A Memoir

By: Sal Giunta

Narrated by: Keith Nobbs, Sal Giunta

Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Sal Giunta was just a regular kid from Iowa when he enlisted in the army to figure out what to do with his life. He never thought that a few tours of duty later, he would be the first living person since the Vietnam War to be awarded the esteemed Medal of Honor.

First stationed in Italy and then deployed into Afghanistan, Giunta had a firsthand perspective of the ground war and its daily difficulties - some quotidian in nature, some anything but. He and around 150 of his company were stationed in the dangerous Korengal Valley in 2007, where some of the most intense fighting in the war had taken place. Giunta called it, “basically hell on earth”.

Late one night in October of 2007, Giunta’s company embarked on a sting operation into the Taliban’s forces. They were ambushed on a rugged mountain path by 20 insurgents. Giunta sprang into action and with little regard for his own safety, he withstood enemy fire to administer medical aid to his wounded fellow soldiers - even rescuing one soldier who was being carried away by the insurgents - until his squad reached safety.

For the unrivaled bravery and selflessness of his actions, Giunta was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Obama. In this fascinating and riveting memoir, he depicts the realities of war, as well as the moment-by-moment details of the event that earned him the nation’s highest distinction.

©2012 Sal Giunta (P)2012 Simon & Schuster, Inc

Wonderfully powerful and humble story

What made the experience of listening to Living with Honor the most enjoyable?

Sal Giuntas accounts of army life in Afganistan, he loyalty to the me he served with and the humble manner he accepted his Medal of Honor are inspiring. It is a story of a tough soldier a tough man who did his duty and with out intent found himself a hero. What a wonderful read of a man easy to respect and admire

What was one of the most memorable moments of Living with Honor?

The loss of men who were supposed to be invinsible giants.

What does Keith Nobbs and Sal Giunta bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Excels at bringing to story to life in the passion with which they tell it

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and did

Thank You Sgt Giunta

What made the experience of listening to Living with Honor the most enjoyable?

Just finished “Living with Honor: A Memoir” by Sal Giunta. I found it to be an excellent read and I highly recommend it. For those who don’t know; Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta is the first living recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. He is also a Cougar ’04 (alum of Kennedy HS in Cedar Rapids, IA).Though a couple decades earlier; as an alum of Kennedy HS myself, I easily relate to much of his early story about growing up in Cedar Rapids and attending Kennedy. As a veteran, with a combat MOS, Sgt Giunta’s depiction of enlistment, training and comradery brought back so many memories; few unwanted, but most more than welcome and missed. For that I thank him. That said, I cannot imagine, not even remotely, the experience this brave man and his “boys” went through in Afghanistan or the impacts of those experiences has had on them, their families and their friends.Sgt. Giunta, I thank you and your buddies for your sacrifice to serve and protect this great nation and I thank you for sharing your journey with us. I’m so thankful we have citizens like you. God Bless !!!

What other book might you compare Living with Honor to and why?

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. True heroes are few and far between. Circumstance are never the same, challenges are always different, but heroes float to the top. They are not perfect; like all of us they have their flaws, but when steel meets steel their character shines as a beacon for all of us. Sgt. Giunta and Lt Zamperini rise to the highest level.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene that describes how Sgt. Giunta earned the Medal of Honor is a great story, though horrific because of the loss of life. But honestly my favorite was when Sal ran into a high school classmate in Italy that led to his meeting his future wife Jenny.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were many, but the one that most moved me was the letter Sgt. Giunta received from his father.

Any additional comments?

Only about 1% of our population stand guard to protect our freedom and liberty. These are volunteers who believe in this great experiment in democracy so much that they ante their own lives. Not all of us can match their strength, their patriotism or their sacrifice, but all can and should thank them, praise them and support them.

Amazing

Any additional comments?

Thank you Sal, for your brave and compassionate duty to our nation and your fellow men in arms. Great story. Ive never listened to a story like this before. I was totally enthralled and felt your every emotion. Well done!

Great story

Thank you! And thank you for telling the story of your brothers who did not return.

Great story

I had the wonderful opportunity to serve with this guys. I have chosen to not listen to stories that over the years have been written . I chose to listen to this and was immediately brought back to the 2/503rd . It’s an amazing story of courage and sacrifice from a extraordinary company that I’m so proud to have been one of the original battle company medics . Giunta , did an amazing act and donated the medal to the unit and it hangs there to this day. Airborne!!!

informative, and respectful

Honest insight to the daysxand after Guinta's Medal of Honor, and the informative purpose of understanding who he is, the battle fought, and the lives of his Brothers in Arms ultimate Sacrifice.

Well written and well read.

Very detailed and insightful reading. I have nothing but respect and gratitude toward the men and women that have fought for our country and our freedom. I’m unable to put into words the thankfulness that I feel for these men and women. This book gives a glimmer of what things they have had to do for us. I’m very proud that we have men like Sal Giunta in our country and I think more people should hear there stories to better understand what they have done for us

Very Inspiring

Bottom line, I loved it. As an Army veteran, I always enjoy hearing from boots on the ground. From the everyday soldiers that were there. Honor and humility. I salute you SSG Giunta. Great book and I wish you well in every day of your future endeavers

Vicenza

I remember those runs up Monte Berico! Slow Salute to everyone that lost their lives during these wars on terror! #honorthefallenofthe173d

Cost of Freedom

Thank you for sharing your story. It made me laugh and cry, filled me with pride for men and women who serve and horror at the conditions in which you serve. I have always been aware I owe my freedoms to the service of others but the cost of those freedoms has never been so painfully clear until I read this book. God bless and keep you!