Thursday, President Obama spoke with Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta to inform him that he will be awarded the Medal of Honor for acts of gallantry at the risk of his life that went above and beyond the call of duty.

Giunta will be the first living servicemember to be awarded the Medal of Honor for service in Iraq or Afghanistan. The President thanked Sergeant Giunta for his service and extraordinary bravery in battle.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians from EOD Training and Evaluation Unit 2 received awards during an awards ceremony held at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Ft. Story, Aug. 23.