Mental Health Break.

Army Sergeant Receives Medal of Honor.

On Tuesday, November 16th, President Obama awarded Army staff sergeant Salvatore A. Giunta the Medal of Honor, making him the first living service member to receive this medal. This medal is known to be "the most prestigious award" that the U.S. Military has to offer. Sergeant Salvatore was awarded this title due to the fact that he put himself in the line of fire in attempt to save his fellow squad members as well as protect/comfort a dying American soldier after being ambushed from three different angles in a coordinated attack in the Korengal Valley. Salvatore's squad was part of a campaign to provide food, winter clothing, and medical care to Afghan Civilians in remote villages. Sergeant Salvatore stated, "It was an ambush so close that the cracks of the guns and the whizzes of the bullets were simultaneous." Although it's very frightening and shocking to be shot at by the enemy, Sergeant Salvatore built up the courage to jump in the line of fire to save his fellow squad mates.

U.S. Military Destroying Civilian Household in Afghanistan

    In Kandahark, Afghanistan, U.S. Soldiers have been removing booby-traps from abandoned/empty houses and farm buildings in order to make the environment safer for civilians and soldiers. This is also helping out by denying Taliban Insurgents hiding places and fighting positions. These acts are part of the NATO practice in past military operations. According to local Afghan Officials, U.S. Military forces haven't been disarming these booby-traps but they have in fact been destroying hundreds of these buildings. Local civilians have been reporting these demolitions to have gone far beyond necessary. While these demolitions are dangerous and a little unnecessary, it is said that they are accompanied by an equally determined effort to hand out cash compensation to homeowners.