Talk about going beyond the call of duty. Corporal Josh Hargis was with his special operations unit in Panjwal, Afghanistan, when a woman detonated a suicide bomb vest nearby, triggering the explosion of 13 other bombs. Four of Hargis’ men were killed, and 12 other soldiers were badly wounded, including Hargis himself.

Now this guy wasn’t “It kinda hurts but I’ll be alright” kind of injured, he was more like “hook this guy up to a breathing tube or else he will die” kind of injured.

Josh was seriously wounded, as you know, and survived for almost two hours after his injury before arriving to the hospital

After coming out of surgery, the dude’s right hand (his saluting hand) was heavily bandaged, and most people presumed him to be unconscious. But when his commander came in to present him with a Purple Heart (a United States Military Decoration given in the name of the President – for which you have to salute when presented with), Hargis raised his hand from under the blanket, and gave the most memorable salute the internet has seen to date.

Doctors attempted to restrain his hand, but Corporal Hargis was having none of that. What a champ.

[Source : USA Today]