First Medal of Honor for living Afghan war vet

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 25-year-old soldier from Iowa who exposed himself to enemy gunfire to try to save two fellow soldiers will become the first living service member from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to receive the Medal of Honor, the White House announced today.

President Barack Obama phoned Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta on Thursday at the base in Italy, where he's stationed, to tell him he'd be receiving the nation's highest military honor, Giunta's father told The Associated Press.

He will become the eighth service member to receive the Medal of Honor during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The seven previous medals were awarded posthumously.

"It's bittersweet for us," said Steven Giunta, of Hiawatha. "We're very proud of Sal. We can't mention that enough, but in this event, two other soldiers were killed and that weighs heavy on us. You get very happy and very proud and then you start dealing with the loss as well. You can't have one without the other."