Central City in Linn County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Salvatore Guinta, SSG
First living Medal of Honor recipient since the Vietnam War
| | 173rd Airborne Brigade, Sky Soldiers | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 18, 2025
1. Salvatore Guinta, SSG Marker
Salvatore A. Giunta was born in Clinton, Iowa to an Italian-American family. Giunta, known as Sal by friends and family, was raised in Hiawatha and attended John F. Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids. In November 2003, at the age of 17 he enlisted in the Army. Giunta was subsequently deployed to Afghanistan for a year, beginning in March 2005, then again from May 2007 to July 2008.
Although SSG Giunta was given the highest U.S. military decoration, that is awarded by Congress to a member of the armed forces for gallantry and bravery in combat at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, he has upheld the honor in the most humble of ways. For example, during a 2017 dedication ceremony for the Medal of Honor Walkway located outside the 173rd Airborne Brigade Headquarters building in Vicenza, Italy, Giunta gave his Medal to the brigade.
He said, I want this to stay in Vicenza, Italy, with the 173rd, with the men and women who earn this every single day through their selflessness and sacrifice. He continued, Im not here because Im a great soldier. Im here because I served with great soldiers.
Recount of
this page online
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 Valleyalso known as the Valley of Death October 25, 2007 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.
To reiterate what Giunta's squad leader said to him, You don't understand... but what you did was pretty
2. Marker detail: Salvatore Guinta, SSG
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, Afghanistan. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 25, 2007.
Location. 42° 11.732′ N, 91° 31.671′ W. Marker is in Central City, Iowa, in Linn County. It is on Central City Road 0.3 miles east of Marion Road (Iowa Route 13), on the right when traveling east. The marker and Linn County Freedom Rock are located in a covered shelter on the south side of the Central City Road and River Street intersection, near the Linn County Fairgrounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 Central City Road, Central City IA 52214, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 18, 2025
3. Salvatore Guinta, SSG Marker
The marker is mounted near the base of the South side of the Linn County Freedom Rock.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: LTC Charles A. Clark (here, next to this marker); Robert Naughton (here, next to this marker); Mancil V. Root (here, next to this marker); PFC Nicholas Aberle (here, next to this marker); Paul Warfield Tibbets Jr. (here, next to this marker); Central City Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); J. C. Clegg Building (approx. 0.7 miles away); Amvets Auxiliary Coggon Honors its War Dead (approx. 5.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Central City.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Central City Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial
Also see . . .
1. Salvatore Augustine Giunta (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: Former United States Army soldier and the first living person since the Vietnam War to receive the United States Armed Forces' highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor. Giunta was cited for saving the lives of members of his squad on October 25,(Submitted on October 13, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)2007, during the War in Afghanistan. On September 10, 2010, the White House announced that Giunta would be awarded the United States' highest military decoration. He received the medal from President Barack Obama during a ceremony at the White House on November 16, 2010. All of his surviving squad members also attended the ceremony.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 18, 20254. Linn County Freedom Rock & Shelter (south side)Salvatore Guinta, SSG is honored on the south side of the Linn County Freedom Rock.
2. Salvatore Augustine Giunta (Congressional Medal of Honor Society).
Excerpt: Specialist Salvatore A. 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. While conducting a patrol as team leader with Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, Specialist Giunta and his team were navigating through harsh terrain when they were ambushed by a well-armed and well-coordinated insurgent force. While under heavy enemy fire, Specialist Giunta immediately sprinted towards cover and engaged the enemy. Seeing that his squad leader had fallen and believing that he had been injured, Specialist Giunta exposed himself to withering enemy fire and raced towards his squad leader, helped him to cover, and administered medical aid. While administering first aid, enemy fire struck Specialist Giuntas body armor and his secondary weapon. Without regard to the ongoing fire, Specialist Giunta engaged the enemy before prepping and throwing grenades, using the explosions for cover in order to conceal his position. Attempting to reach additional wounded fellow soldiers who were separated from the squad, Specialist Giunta and his team encountered a barrage of enemy fire that forced them to the ground. The team continued forward and upon reaching the wounded soldiers, Specialist Giunta realized that another soldier was still separated from the element. Specialist Giunta then advanced forward on his own initiative. As he crested the top of a hill, he observed two insurgents carrying away an American soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy, killing one and wounding the other. Upon reaching the wounded soldier, he began to provide medical aid, as his squad caught up and provided security. Specialist Giuntas unwavering courage, selflessness, and decisive leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his platoons ability to defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American soldier from the enemy.(Submitted on October 13, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 10, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 111 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 13, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
