sal giunta, who is now serving at a u.s. base in italy, is not yet able to reconcile their losses with becoming an american hero. >> giunta: i'm not at peace with that at all. and... and coming and talking about it and people wanting to shake my hand because of it, it hurts me because it's not what i want. and to be with so many people doing so much stuff, and then to be singled out and put forward. i mean, everyone did something. okay, someone wrote about this, and then someone else approved it. and then a story was told and handshakes were made, and then sooner or later, i'm talking to the president of the united states. i don't see how that happened. >> logan: like it or not, sal giunta is now part of an elite fraternity. there are only 86 medal of honor recipients alive today. for the rest of his life, he'll enjoy certain privileges, like a guaranteed seat at presidential inaugurations. and he'll be honored every year at events like this. but it's something he may never be comfortable with. what kind of soldier are you? >

. >> reporter: but in those two three minutes, army staff sergeant sal giunta went from a soldier to a hero, now deserving the nation's highest military honor. we've come to afghanistan to find the men that sal fought with. many are here on this remote combat outpost, but their thoughts and memories are with sal and what happened that night. he was walking along the ridge line with other members of his unit, assigned to protect other soldiers walking back to their base. >> we opened up into a small clearing out of a lightly forested area and single shot rang out. >> reporter: it was what the military calls an l-shaped ambush sprung by the taliban, which means taliban fighters were in front of the men and to their side cht. >> there's not just one or two, probably more than ten and they're not that far away. >> they actually watched the guy pull the trigger that was aimed at you. >> it seems like your world is exploded in bullets and rpgs and everything. >> just bad situation. >> we looked and it was along our whole side. our flank. >> reporter: every soldier that night was shot. >> yo

tuesday sal giunta will be cited by president obama for bravery in afghanistan. a huge distinction but one that also comes with added emotional burden. here's what general david petraeus, leader of the u.s. forces in afghanistan, said about it in this exclusive interview with cnn's barbara starr. >> he has written a chapter, a very, very extraordinary chapter in american history, and, again, he is -- he's going to have that with him the rest of his life. my sense is that he is exactly the kind of individual who can carry this in a sense burden because that's what it is, again, the hopes and dreams of a generation are now entrusted to him. >> cnn's pentagon correspondent barbara starr has a special report about staff sergeant sal giunta next hour on cnn. she joins me live from washington. i ran into some service members today who are doing a march here, barbara, and it is amazing to see those guys and great. i'm so glad we're getting the chance to honor them here and that the sergeant is getting an honor, as well. >> look at what general petraeus had to say, don.

sal giunta will receive the medal.07, he fought off taliban fighters dragging away one of his wounded cam rads. >>> a dog helped save soldiers from a suicide bomber in afghanistan. couldn't survive animal control in arizona. target was loose somehow and ended up at a shelter and put to sleep by mistake. that worker responsible is now on leave. >>> and executives with bank of america, jp morgan chase and other banks go before the senate banking committee today. lawmakers want the know more about the problems of foreclosure documents and if any of the banks improperly seized peoples' homes. >>> well, while that foreclosure hearing is going on today, in florida judges ripping through foreclosure paperwork at record speeds. our poppy harlow had an exclusive behind the scenes look at exactly how it worked. so poppy, they're literally spending about two minutes per case. how's that even possible? >> reporter: yeah. some cases even one minute. this is sort of an anomaly in the country right now. only happening in the state of

. >> reporter: staff sergeant sal giunta and his fellow soldiers, it was hell on earth.of all was october 26, 2007. >> everything all of a sudden happened. tracers, bullets, r.p.g.s, explosions, wings, syncs, snaps, pops, cracks. >> reporter: about a dozen taliban fighters ambushed the americans as they were heading back to base, firing at them from two sides simultaneously. sergeant giunta's squad leader was among the first to be hit. >> i fell. that's when i got shot in the helmet. i remember thinking "did i just get shot in the helmet? did that just happen?" >> reporter: you had to get him out of that spop? >> i had to pull him back. before i know it, sdwraun is coming in the open and pulling me out of the open. >> reporter: while saving his squad leader, giunta was shot in his body armor. with no regard for his own life, he charged oneself again into the taliban guns to rescue another american soldier. sergeant joshua brennan had been gravely wounded and was being carried away by taliban fighters. >> one guy had his armed and one guy had his legs and they were draggi

i don't know. >> reporter: but in those two, three minutes, army staff sergeant sal giunta went from ta was walking along a ridge line with other members of his unit, assigned to protect other soldiers as they were walking back to their base. >> and single shot rang out. everybody started getting down behind cover. >> there's not just one of them. it's not two of them. it's not ten of them. it's probably more than ten. and they're really not that far away. >> you actually watch the guy pulling the trigger aimed at you. >> it seemed like your world is exploding in bullets and rpgs and everything. we looked it was along the whole side. along our flank. >> reporter: hit eight times was the man in front, walking point, as the military says, sergeant josh brennan of wisconsin. he talked to his dad just a few nights before. >> actually, he volunteered for that mission. >> reporter: on that ridge line, josh brennan was down, severely wounded, sal giunta raced ahead into the face of taliban fire. >> he got to the front. he killed one of the guys that was dragging our team leader away, sergean

may staff sergeant sal giunta -- for generations to come.in their new responsibilities and roles that lie before them, may they continue to meet them all with dignity, honor, courage and humility. their your divine faith land on our president, god bless the members of our armed services, and god bless america, we pray y in your holy name, amen. >> thank you so much, everybody. let's give sal one last big round of applause. [ applause ] >> you are witnessing something you will not see very often in our lifetimes, it was last in 1976 that a living recipient of the medal of honor stood there and received this. this is an award that was given to staff sergeant sal giunta for activity that took place on an october night in a valley in northern afghanistan, his valor was described in great detail by the president. let me just tell you a little bit about the medal of honor, which is the highest military honor presented. i want to take a look at it up close here, mark if you can. the design dates back to 1904. the middle is the goddess of war. you c

that's why sal giunta risked his life for his fellow soldiers. because they would risk their lives for him. that's what fueled his bravery. not just the urgent impulse to have their backs, but the absolute confidence that they had his. one of them, sal has said, of these young men that he was with, he said, they are just as much of me as i am. they are just as much of me as i am. # so i would ask sal's team, all of battle company who were with him that day to please stand and be recognized as well. [ applause ] [ applause ] >> gentlemen, thank you for your service. we're all in your debt, and i'm proud to be your commander in chief. please be seated. these are the soldiers of our armed forces. highly trained, battle hardened, each with specialized roles and responsibilities, but all with one thing in common, they volunteered. in an era when it's never been more tempting to chase personal ambition or narrow self interest, they chose the opposite. they felt a tug. they answered a call. they said i'll go. and for the better part of a decade they hav

i don't know. >> reporter: but in those two, three minutes, army staff sergeant sal giunta went from ght, giunta was walking along a ridgeline with other members of his unit assigned to protect other soldiers as they were walking back to their base. >> and a single shot rang out. everybody started getting down behind cover. >> there's not just one of them, not two of them and not ten of them it is probably more than ten and they are really not that far away. >> actually watch the guy pull the trigger who was aiming at you. >> it seems like your world is exploding in bullets and rpgs and everything. we have looked, it was along the whole side. >> reporter: hit was the man in front, walking the frank, as the military says, sergeant josh brennan of mcfar lan, which is, which he had talked to his dad, mike, to only a few days before. >> actually, he had volunteered for that mission that day. >> reporter: on the ridge line, josh brennan was down, severely wounded. sal giunta raced ahead into the face of taliban fire. >> he got to the front, he killed one of the guys that was dragging my te

today, honored by his fellow soldiers, family, and president, sal giunta begin the first living medal of honor recipient since the veteran -- vietnam war. >> i lost two friends of mine. although this is so positive, i would give this back in a second to have my friends with me today. >> the president said he is what america is all about. as most true he fit -- true heroes often do, he insists he was just doing his job. >> he adds that this model be lost to all service members taking part in the fight. trippet the rain is getting heavier tonight which could make for a risky evening on the road. doug hill has the latest. >> we have areas of rain in the evening hours. it is pretty widespread. here is a look at the storms can. there are areas of rain moving from southwest to northeast and will continue to do so. they will eventually come to an end. we do expect the clouds to hang tough overnight as clouds hang steady. the areas of shaded in lane tab -- shaded in tan are wind advisories. were on the weather coming up. >>> more information in prince george's county corruption scandal. were

president obama awarded the medal of mon nor to 25-year-old army staff sergeant sal giunta.hree years ago he rescued two fellow soldiers caught in an ambush in afghanistan. two men were killed in that attack. >> this is an incredible time, but it's also kind of a bittersweet time. times like this, because of this day, i lost two dear friends of mine, specialist hugo mendoza and sergeant joshua brennan. and, although this is so positive, i would give this back on a second to have my friends with me right now. >> he is the first living veteran of the iraq and afghanistan wars to receive the medal of honor. >>> this morning on "the early show" live reports from london on the newest details of prince william's royal wedding. i'm betty nguyen. this is the "cbs morning news." [ female announcer ] treat yourself to something special for lunch at red lobster. how about a coastal soup and grilled shrimp salad combination? or maybe skewers of wood-grilled shrimp. seafood lunches starting at just $6.99 at red lobster. seafood lunches starting at just $6.99 if you live for performance,

. >> reporter: but in the two three-minutes, army staff sergeant sal giunta went from a self-describedmbers of the unit, assigned to protect other soldiers while they were walking back to their base. >> and single shot rang out. and everybody started to get down behind cover. >> there is not one of them or two of them or ten of them, but more than ten and they are not that far away. >> you could watch the guy pull the trigger that was aiming at you. >> it seems like the world is exploding in bullets and rpgs and everything. we looked and it was along the whole side, and along, you know the flank. >> reporter: hit eight times was the man in front, walking point as the military says, sergeant josh brennan of mcfarland, wisconsin. he talked to his dad, mike, only a few days before. >> actually he had volunteered for that mission that day. >> reporter: on that ridgeline josh brennan was downed severely wounded. sal giunta raced ahead into the face of taliban fire. >> he got to the front, and he killed one of the guys that was dragging my team leader away, sergeant brennan. and wounded anot

white house today, president obama awarded the medal of honor to 25-year-old army staff sergeant sal giuntarst living recipient of the military's highest medal for valor since the vietnam war. three years ago in afghanistan, giunta ran twice through a wall of bullets to rescue two fellow soldiers caught in an enemy ambush. one later died. a medic was also killed in the attack. >> this is an incredible time but it's also kind of a better sweet time. times like this, because of this day, i lost two dear friends of mine, specialist hugo mendoza and sergeant joshua brennan. and although this is so positive i would give this back in a second to have my friends with me right now. >> couric: the president said sergeant giunta is as humble as he is heroic. he'll be honored next week in his home state of iowa. and coming up next, getting paid less than a man for the exact same job? these women had a better idea. [ male announcer ] for frequent heartburn relief, nothing beats prevacid®24hr. just one pill helps keep you heartburn free for a full 24 hours. prevent the acid that causes frequent heartbur

sal giunta was hailed by president obama as the best shining example of the u.s.armed forces. >> it is my privilege to present our nation's highest military decoration, the medal of honor, to a soldier as humble as he is heroic, staff sergeant salvatore giunta. >> and with that a soldier from iowa joined a long line of this nation's very best, dating back to the civil >> i'm going to go off script here for a second and just say, i really like this guy. [ applause ] >> his active valor tack place during a fierce fire fight in afghanistan's remote valley. his platoon was pinned down when he saw two insurgents carrying off his mortally wounded sergeant. he ran into the oncoming fire and killed one insurgent and wounded the other and dragged his friend to cover. sergeant joshua brennan later died following the firefighter that left two americans dead and five wounded. >> the thing that i did that is so well documented now and so talked about over and over again, i was only able to do that because everyone else was doing everything they could. there was nothing else fo

. >> that was the secretary of defense talking about sal giunta.risked his life to save two soldiers. he was awarded at the white house by the president. >> the ravens may be favorites to beat the panthers and ray lewis says they're taking nothing for granted and they're busy plotting ways to confuse the offense of the panthers. we'll give him looks he's not used to seeing and disguising it to make him think one thing's coming and giving him a different look. any time you can get to him, that's the most important thing. and the ravens are back on wjz as they face the panthers. >> and you can see it sunday afternoon at 1:00 live here. >>> and here's where the ravens are. you see them and the coaching staff say they're watching films and continuing to learn. some have peeked out and half way through the year, they're saying they could learn and get better. take a look at this graphic. it's in carolina blue. don't ask me why. it's set for football. there and we have a seasonably chilly day in store for you and by that, the normal was in the mid-50s. a

sal giunta says he didn't do anything special.g but it is a great thing that has come at a personal loss to myself and so many other families. >> reporter: and that is what you want people to know? >> absolutely. >> reporter: that is what he wants all of america to know standing next to president obama today. he says he is accepting the medal of honor, the nation's highest military honor, on behalf of sergeant joshua brennan, specialist hugo mendosa, two men that didn't make it that night in the ambush and to all of those that served. john, kiran? >> he is an amazing fellow. seems to be, before bra, a sense of history being made at the highest levels of the military. >> reporter: oh, absolutely. this is a moment when everyone is pausing and reflecting. in afghanistan several days ago, i asked general petraeus about sergeant giunta. dave petraeus as you know is a man that picks and chooses the words very carefully. this time, listen to what he had to say. >> he is going to say it was not his actions, it was what anyone would have d

. >>> the pentagon inducted staff sergeant sal vatore giunta.e medal of honor this week. >>> women who smoke when they're pregnant are more likely to have criminal kids. the more a woman smokes, the higher the arrest rate for her children. >>> democrats lost their majority in the house but likely will keep all the same party leaders at the helm. that's not without controversy. a few outspoken representatives would like to see nancy pelosi step aside. democrats are voting on the leadership as we speak. we're looking at at stakeout cameras, the microphones outside the room. when we see the leaders come out, we'll show you that live. we're expecting them to talk to reporters like nbc's luke russert who's on capitol hill now. luke, tell me about nancy pelosi's opposition. >> reporter: well, contessa, the opposition is up in arms right now. there will be a significant delay. we were supposed to hear from democratic leaders, the newly electioned leadership at about 1:00. we've heard that will be postponed possibly several hours because there's now a v

army staff sergeant sal giunta is getting the highest honor to risk his life to save another soldier. president obama will present him in a melgd of honor ceremony at 2:00. if you've heard anything from this soldier, he said he's really an average soldier and doesn't feel he's deserved of this honor but he'll go ahead and get it. >> i know. i saw on "60 minutes" he was featured on. >> he'll be here live on friday a little birdie just told me. thank you. >> i'll look for a second source on that. it's confirmed. the second source just confirmed it with me. at 4 minutes after the top of the hour, major news, i think. when you talk about rating and spinning, it sounds like rhetoric. every politician claims on doing it. eric, you have to believe that something is going to get done as senate minority leader, mitch mcconnell says count me on an earmark ban. >> this is fantastic. finally, no more turtle bridges and all these projects, small projects going back to the states. this will be fantastic. it means the tea party is making some inroads. whether or not the elected tea partiers actually

witnesses say taliban militants ambushed sal have a tore's giunta's squad.e line of fire to save a fellow soldiers taking two bullets. went after two taliban firefighters who were carrying away a dying soldier. he rescued that soldier and allowed his family to give him a proper burial. >> staff sergeant giunta repeatedly and without hesitation you charged forward through extreme enemy fire embodying the motto i will never leave a fallen conrad. before it could claim more lives. prevented the capture of an american soldier and brought that soldier back to his family. you may believe that you don't deserve this honor, but it was your fellow soldiers who recommended you for it. >> shepard: the president says giunta is as humble as he is heroic. the hero dedicated his hero to all who served in iraq and afghanistan. >> i lost two dear friends of mine, specialist mendosa and joshua brennan. and although this is so positive, i would give this back in a second to have my friends with me right now. >> shepard: staff sergeant giunta joins an elite group of recipients.

giunta. may he wear the medal of honor with pride. >> please give sal and gin great wisdom. meet them all with courage, honor and humility. upon all at national leaders they strive together to lead our greet country. god bless the members of our armed services and god bless america we pray in your holy name, amen. how'd you do that? do what? it tastes t good to be fiber. you made it taste like chocolate. it has 35% of your daily value of fiber. do it again. turn it into somethintasty. this guy's doing magic. there's chocolate chips in here now. how'd you do that? right! tasty fiber, that's a good one! ok, umm...read her mind. what's she thinking? that's right! i'm not thinking anything! [ male announcer ] fiber one chewy bars. cardboard no. delicious yes. shannon: we are awaiting news conference in the case of a missing ohio family as a desperate search is underway for tina herrmann, her on and her friend. >> reporter: that news conference with the sheriff expected to begin 30 minutes from now in the building behind me. we expect to learn more in the search for that missing

sal never looked twice. he took aim, killed one of the insurgents and wounded the other who ran off. indianapolis giunta rescued brennan who later died and rescued another. >> every single tomorrow they will ever have they gave for their country. >> reporter: without giunta, more may have perished. in a ceremony at the white house -- >> i'm going to go off script and say i really like this guy. >> reporter: the young sergeant became the first living medal of honor recipient since the vietnam war. an honor bestowed on few yo, shd with many. >> i'd give this back in a second to have my friends with me now. >> reporter: those with sergeant giunta never far from his heart, right where the medal now rests. kristen dahlgren, washington. >>> a hero. in california, a suspected drunk driver hardly kept it together when he was pulled over by police. the driver got out of his car but apparently left it in reverse, so the car slammed into the front of the patrol car. if got worse. when the droofr got back in the car sped -- driver got back in the car sped off and crashed. the man was arrested on suspicion of dui. >

. >> reporter: giunta watched his best friend, platoon leader, josh brennan, being dragged away by insurgents. he charged into the ambush after him, under heavy fire. >> sal was hit twice. one slamming into his body armor. the other shattering a weapon slung across his back. >> he was putting everything into he had to keep brennan alive. he was talking to him. comforting him. >> reporter: brennan did not make it. giunta says he shares in the nation's highest honor. >> a well-deserved honor. >>> now, for this morning's weather from around the nation. rain in the pacific northwest. windy with up to two feet of snow in the cass dads. and up to a foot in the colorado rockies. much lighter snow in montana and wyoming. some scattered showers in wichita, st. louis and memphis. and morning showers in the ohio valley and the northeast. >> 60s from dallas and new orleans, up to boston. 54 in detroit. 38 in the twin cities. phoenix climbs to 76. sacramento will hit 68. 34 in billings. and mostly 50s from boise to albuquerque. >>> and when we come back on this wednesday, another boost for an american carmaker. motor trend announces its car of the year. >>> plus, dick

of people and who they are and when you meet sal and you meet his family, you are just absolutely convinced that this is what america is all about. >> giuntariefly captured by the taliban. he also got medical help and called in a helicopter. that soldier later died but giunta's commanders say his actions were nothing short of heroic. >>> he was once one of the most powerful men in congress, but tonight charles rangel stands convicted of multiple ethics violations. a house ethics panel today found rangel guilty of 11 counts of violating house rules, among those not paying taxes on income he made from property in the dominican republic. the panel will decide rangel's punishment which could range from censure to reprimand. >>> three years after prince williams county put its controversial immigration policy into place a new study shows it's working. the policy requires police to check the immigration status of anyone arrested in the county. a university of virginia study found 99% of suspected undocumented immigrants were confirmed to be in the country illegally. the report also found the rates of some crimes have fallen since the policy was

giunta is time came on october 25, 2007. he was a special spin, just 22 years old. salral days into a nation in the korengal valley, the most dangerous valley in northeast afghanistan. the moon was full. life had cast was enough to travel by without using their night vision goggles. with heavy gear on their backs and air support overhead, they made their way single file down a rocky ridge crest so steep that the sliding was sometimes easier than walking your they hadn't traveled a quarter-mile before the silence was shattered. it was an ambush so close that the cracks of the guns with bullets were simultaneous. tracer fire hammered the ridge at hundreds of rounds per minute. more, sal said, than the stars in the sky. the apache gunship sought all that couldn't engage with the indy so close to our soldiers. the next platoon were too far away to join the fight in time. to lead men were hit by enemy fire and knocked down instantly. win the third was struck in hell and fell to the ground, sal charged headlong into the wall of bullets to pull him to safety behind what little

>> reporter: giunta watched his best friend, platoon leader, josh brennan, badly wounded, being dragged away by insurgents. he charged into the ambush under them, under heavy fire. >> sal round slammed into his body armor, the other shattering a weapon slung across his back. >> he was putting everything he had into keeping brennan alive. he was talking to him, comforting him. >> reporter: brennan did not make it. giunta says he shares in the nation's highest honor. the medal of honor is a distinction reserved for the most valiant of american warriors. it's been conferred just six times before in the wars in afghanistan, in every case to troops who lost their lives in the effort. john hendren, abc news, washington. >> a very nice off the cuff remark from the president when he said, i really like this guy. he went on to say, when you meet sal and you meet his family you are absolutely convinced this is what america is all about. just incredible honor for him yesterday. >> such a great story. they were saying several of his squad mates were there and they also received a similar round of applause. a round of applause can't show any amount of thankfulness that we have but

giunta. our hearts resonate with the theme of heroes proved and liberating strife. loving mercy more than life. may our remembrance inspire americans with great pride and humility that we have selfless warriors like salamong us today. as we hear the count of his heroic actions, may wait remember that our armed forces and those who stand in harm's way across the world today. through the narrative of his courageous actions against the enemy, and his selfless devotion to rescue a fallen comrade, may we all recommit ourselves to sacrificial and selfless service for families and fellow citizens. and inspiring. -- renewed unity as we celebrate this special day. with his parents, steven andrews mary and his brother and sister. may we remember all military families who await the safe return home of their loved ones. as we pause to remember the many freedoms we enjoy as a nation, let us give thanks to those who played the glorious liberty with which we enjoyed to the blood, sweat, and tears. this we pray in your holy name, a man. -- amen. >> good afternoon, everybody. please be seated. on behalf of michele and myself, welcome to the white house. thank you, chaplain, for that beautiful indication. of all the p