His name is Salvatore Giunta, he's 25, and he's stationed in the relative safety and comfort of Italy now. He's lucky to be alive. And because of him, so are a few other guys. He's going to soon be the first Medal of Honor winner since the Vietnam War, who actually survived his heroic actions.
For those that aren't aware, the Medal of Honor is a big, big deal. It's the highest military decoration in the US, and it's such a big deal to receive it because it's usually awarded posthumously:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Honor
This medal has actually become increasingly rare in recent years, owing partly to the political process of awarding it, and partly the high tech nature of the wars that are fought these days.
I am awed by guys like this.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB2000...764117024.html