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Now, 26 years after retiring as a Navy commander, he looks back on his career fondly, even if he didn't expect to be a career sailor."At the time I went in, I didn't know if I was going to stay, but I ended up getting there and enjoying it and spent 20 years doing a lot of different jobs and having a good time," Harris said. Harris was here with his grandchildren, seeing the sights and touring the memorials on the National Mall. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial holds special significance, he said, because he spent 21 months in Vietnam during the mid-1960s. "The grandkids haven't been here before. That's why we're here today," Harris said. "They need to understand that a lot of people sacrificed a lot in the past for the fact that they have the freedoms they have today. They need to understand that these memorials are here for those people." Now a resident of Chocowinity, N.C., Harris said the Navy lived up to its old promise: Join the Navy and see the world. His career in the Navy's Supply Corps took him to Italy, Thailand and Japan, in addition to Vietnam. But it wasn't the variety of locales that made his career exciting, he said. Rather, it was the variety of tasks he was assigned. "It's an amazing experience to go out and do a lot of different things and get a lot of responsibility early in your career," he said. "My time in Vietnam is a case in point. I was a young [lieutenant junior grade] at the time over there, and I was running a lot of food service operations and feeding a lot of troops. You can't always do things like that as a civilian." Harris went to Vietnam twice - once aboard a ship on a six-month tour and once ashore for 15 months in 1966 and 1967. He was assigned to be a food service officer, something he'd never done before. Learning on the job can be harrowing for anyone, he noted, let alone having the responsibility of feeding thousands of hungry sailors in the Da Nang area and supplying forward operators near the demilitarized zone of the then-divided country. "I went over there with no experience in food service, but found out that you can run a food service organization letting the technical people handle a lot of the work, and I looked after the people and organization," he said. "It was interesting from that perspective." It was this aspect of the job -- being put into a place initially unfamiliar and forced to adapt -- that stuck with him, he said, noting that it helped him to appreciate the value of education. Today's servicemembers, he said, shouldn't take opportunities for education for granted and should appreciate the chances they get to learn. "The best thing I can tell people who are serving in the Navy right now is to do your job well, learn from your experience [and] advance," he said. "You can always study in the Navy and get better educated and get more diverse jobs, more responsible jobs, and move up the ladder. Be involved, and enjoy what you're doing." Though Harris said he didn't plan to do anything in particular on this year's Veterans Day, he keeps today's servicemembers in mind and hopes many veterans can come home safely to celebrate with him in the future. "We're mindful of the fact that there are still a lot of troops serving and a lot of people are dying, and we remember them at that time," he said. Harris said young people should consider the military as a viable career option. Although he didn't initially intend to spend 20 years in uniform, he said, he has no regrets about his decision to serve. As a parent and grandparent, he added, he encourages young people to look into ROTC or enlistment as, at the very least, a good first step in a career. Choosing a military career is "a very good way to go," Harris said. ("Veterans' Reflections" is a collection of stories of men and women who served their country in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and the present-day conflicts. They will be posted throughout November in honor of Veterans Day.) Nov. 18, 2010: By Ian Graham- Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

Giunta, then a specialist, was a 22-year-old rifle team leader serving in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team's Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, when insurgents attacked his squad in October 2007. When approaching insurgents formed an L-shaped ambush, splitting Giunta's squad into two groups, Giunta braved enemy fire to pull a squad member back to cover.President Barack Obama awarded Giunta the Medal of Honor yesterday in a White House ceremony. "The Medal of Honor, our nation's highest award for valor, recognizes those who distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry, intrepidity at risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty," Gates said at the Hall of Heroes ceremony. "All too often, those who meet that high standard do so at the cost of their lives -- this has been especially true of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. So it is indeed an occasion of great thankfulness and celebration when we can welcome one of these warriors home." Giunta saved a second soldier while trying to connect with the other half of his squad. He saw two insurgents carrying off the second squad member and recovered him while shooting and killing one enemy fighter and wounding and driving off others. Giunta administered medical aid to the wounded soldier, but in spite of his efforts, the soldier died the next day during surgery. "While we can never fail or forget to honor the fallen," Gates said, "we also need living heroes -- heroes who overcame every fear, every obstacle, to inspire, to teach and ennoble us by what they have done. Heroes like Sal Giunta. "I say this because we're in the tenth year of a conflict fought on distant shores, waged by the few for the sake of the many," Gates continued. "A complex, and at times, a confusing struggle against enemies that lurk among the innocent, it is a conflict that lacks the traditional battle lines, clash of armies and clear-cut definition associated in the public mind with major wars." Yet the fundamental nature of war, Gates added, and the role of individual selflessness, initiative and courage do not change. Gates told Giunta he saw a television interview this week in which Giunta called himself "just a middleman representing all those who have served and sacrificed in Iraq and Afghanistan." "Sergeant, your modesty and your humility, together with valor, truly sets you apart," Gates said. "Though you call yourself 'mediocre,' you are clearly exceptional, even among the fellow warriors you so graciously extolled." More importantly, Gates told Giunta, "You are a living example, a reminder to America that there are heroes, modern heroes, who live and walk among us -- heroes who are still fighting and dying to protect us every day. "Your valor and courage for your comrades and the entire generation of warriors you so ably represent offers enduring hope for the future of our country," Gates said. Nov. 17, 2010: By Terri Moon Cronk- American Forces Press Service

But remembering veterans is something that some Americans do every day, especially those who fought side by side during times of war. Monuments and memorials around the nation's capital offer a chance to reminisce and to share their stories with families and friends. Retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Roy Penman recently took advantage of that opportunity. He volunteered 30 years of his life to the military, fighting in Vietnam and deploying for operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. "When I first joined the military in 1964, it was right in the middle of the draft, and I was 20 years old and afraid to get drafted, so I joined the Navy, a family tradition," he said. "Well, while I was in boot camp I was drafted by the Army. I spent four years in the Navy, three of [them] in Vietnam." Penman said he came under fire in both wars. "It was a scary situation," he said. "While I was in the Navy, we were offshore getting shelled by the Viet Cong, and there was no place to go. It's either stay on the ship or swim." For Penman, it wouldn't be the last time he would find himself in the line of fire. Years later, while serving in Operation Desert Storm, Penman said, "we were under scud attacks pretty regularly." After Vietnam, Penman switched to the Air Force and served at 12 different bases in 26 years before he retired. He spent the last 18 years of his Air Force career working as an F-15 avionics technician, and now works for the Air Force as a civilian. "Every airplane I've ever worked on is in a museum now, so I figured it was time for me to retire," Penman said. Penman said he enjoyed the military life and the job security that the armed forces provide. "All you have to do is keep your nose clean and re-enlist," he said. But job security wasn't his only motivation for his career of military service. "I guess you could call me a patriot, because I just love my country," Penman said. ("Veterans' Reflections" is a collection of stories of men and women who served their country in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and the present-day conflicts. They will be posted throughout November in honor of Veterans Day.) Nov. 17, 2010: By Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class William Selby- Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

During a White House ceremony, the commander in chief of what he called "the finest military that the world has ever known" awarded the medal to Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore A. Giunta for heroic action in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley on Oct. 25, 2007."Since the end of the Vietnam War, the Medal of Honor has been awarded nine times for conspicuous gallantry in an ongoing or recent conflict. Sadly, our nation has been unable to present this decoration to the recipients themselves, because each gave his life, his last full measure of devotion, for his country," Obama said. "Today, therefore, marks the first time in nearly 40 years that the recipient of the Medal of Honor for an ongoing conflict has been able to come to the White House and accept this recognition in person," the president said. The Medal of Honor is the highest military award a servicemember can receive for valor in action against a combatant force. Giunta's Medal of Honor is the eighth awarded to troops serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. The previous seven awards all have been posthumous. "It is my privilege to present our nation's highest military decoration to a soldier as humble as he is heroic," the president said. "I'm going to go off script here for a second and just say, 'I really like this guy.'" Cheers and applause followed. "When you meet Sal and you meet his family," Obama continued, "you are just absolutely convinced that this is what America is all about. So this is a joyous occasion for me." During Giunta's first of two tours in Afghanistan, his team leader gave him a piece of advice, Obama said: "You've just got to try to do everything you can when it's your time to do it." The president then described the events that led to today's medal presentation. "He was a specialist then, just 22 years old. Sal and his platoon were several days into a mission in the Korengal Valley, the most dangerous valley in northeast Afghanistan," Obama said. Giunta was serving as a rifle team leader with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team's Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment. That October evening, his squad ran into an insurgent ambush. The platoon's soldiers had spent the day in an overwatch position and were heading back to their base camp. Giunta's squad moved out first and came under enemy fire. "It was an ambush so close that the cracks of the guns and the whiz of the bullets were simultaneous," the president said. "The Apache gunships overhead saw it all, but couldn't engage with the enemy so close to our soldiers." When the ambush split Giunta's squad into two groups, he exposed himself to enemy fire to pull a squad mate back to cover. Later, while returning fire and attempting to link up with the rest of his squad, Giunta saw two insurgents carrying away a wounded fellow soldier, Sgt. Joshua C. Brennan. "Sal never broke stride," Obama said. "He leapt forward, he took aim, he killed one of the insurgents and wounded the other, who ran off. Sal found his friend alive, but badly wounded. He had saved him from the enemy. Now he had to try to save his life." Giunta provided medical aid to his wounded comrade while the rest of his squad caught up and provided security. Brennan, 22, from McFarland, Wis., died the next day during surgery. A medic, Spc. Hugo V. Mendoza, 29, of Glendale, Ariz., also died. "It had been as intense and violent a firefight as any soldier will experience," the president said. "By the time it was finished, every member of first platoon had shrapnel or a bullet hole in their gear. Five were wounded, and two gave their lives." Obama said Giunta is a "low-key guy" who doesn't seek the limelight. "Your actions disrupted a devastating ambush before it could claim more lives," the president said to Giunta. "Your courage prevented the capture of an American soldier and brought that soldier back to his family. You may believe you don't deserve this honor, but it was your fellow soldiers who recommended you for it." Obama asked members of Giunta's team from that day who were present at the ceremony to stand and be recognized. "Gentlemen, thank you for your service," Obama said. "We're all in your debt, and I'm proud to be your commander in chief." America's highly trained and battle-hardened servicemembers all have one thing in common, Obama said: they volunteer. "In an era when it's never been more tempting to chase personal ambition or narrow self-interest, they chose the opposite," he said. "For the better part of a decade, they have endured tour after tour in distant and difficult places. They have protected us from danger. They have given others the opportunity to earn a better and more secure life." Obama quoted something Giunta said shortly after he learned he would receive the Medal of Honor. "'If I'm a hero,' Sal has said, 'Then every man who stands around me, every woman in the military, every person who defends this country is.' And he's right," the president said. "This medal today is a testament to his uncommon valor, but also to the parents and the community that raised him, the military that trained him, and all the men and women who served by his side." Today's servicemembers represent a small fraction of the nation's population, Obama said. "But they and the families who await their safe return carry far more than their fair share of our burden. They do it in hopes that our children and grandchildren won't have to," he said. "They are the very best part of us. They are why our banner still waves, our founding principles still shine. They are why our country, the United States of America, still stands as a force for good all over the world." The president stood beside the staff sergeant as the Medal of Honor citation was read, and then fastened the distinctive blue ribbon suspending the medal around Giunta's neck. Giunta stood at attention as the crowd applauded and cheered. Finally, when the clapping continued without abating, the young man smiled. Giunta was born Jan. 21, 1985, in Clinton, Iowa, and grew up in Cedar Rapids and Hiawatha, Iowa. His parents, Steven and Rosemary Giunta, live in Hiawatha. He has a younger brother, Mario, and a younger sister, Katie. Giunta enlisted in the Army in November 2003, and completed basic and infantry training at Fort Benning, Ga. He married Jennifer Lynn Mueller, a native of Dubuque, Iowa, in October 2009. Giunta completed two combat tours in Afghanistan with the 173rd, from March 2005 to March 2006 and from May 2007 to August 2008. He currently is stationed at the unit's home base near Vicenza, Italy, while the brigade is once more deployed to Afghanistan. Giunta's wife, parents and siblings accompanied him to the White House for today's medal presentation. Also attending today's ceremony were First Lady Michelle Obama, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, members of Congress, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, Army Secretary John M. McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. Here is the text of Giunta's Medal of Honor citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded, in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor to Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta, United States Army. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: 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 Giunta's 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 Giunta's unwavering courage, selflessness, and decisive leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his platoon's ability to defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American soldier from the enemy. Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta's extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, and the United States Army. Nov. 16, 2010: By Karen Parrish- American Forces Press Service