 On July 24 , 2009 President Barack Obama signed the authorization for Monti to receive the Medal of Honor for this action . The medal was presented to the family by the President in a formal ceremony at the White House on September 17 , 2009 . Monti is the 3,448th recipient of the honor since the medal was established by the U.S. Congress during the American Civil War . Additionally , he is the second Medal of Honor recipient from the conflict in Afghanistan , after Navy SEAL Michael P. Murphy , who received the medal in 2007 . 
