Soldier to Receive Medal of Honor

On July 12, President Obama will award Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, for his conspicuous gallantry in Afghanistan. Petry, a native of Santa Fe, N.M., will be the second living MOH recipient, behind Army SSgt. Salvatore Giunta, from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. On May 26, 2008, Petry was serving as the senior noncommissioned officer on an assault team in Afghanistan’s Paktia province during a “rare daylight raid to capture a high-value target,” according to an Army release. As Petry and a fellow Ranger worked to clear an outside courtyard, an insurgent fired on them. A single bullet tore through both of Petry’s legs. Despite his wounds, Petry led his colleague to cover. After an insurgent threw a grenade near him and his fellow Rangers, Petry picked it up to throw it back at the enemy. The grenade detonated upon release and blew off his right hand. His actions are credited with saving several colleagues’ lives. (White House advisory)