 Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry received the Medal of Honor at a July 12, 2011, White House ceremony for conspicuous gallantry in combat. U.S. Army photo (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. |
Posted on 07/12/2011 4:22:18 PM PDT by SandRat
WASHINGTON, July 12, 2011 – President Barack Obama today awarded the country’s highest military honor to Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry, an Army Ranger who was shot in both legs and had his hand blown off while saving his fellow soldiers during a firefight in Afghanistan.
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Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, Army Secretary John M. McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey also attended the ceremony, as did the members of the legendary Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, with which Petry served.
Calling Petry, 31, “a true hero,” Obama recounted how the soldier was on his seventh combat deployment in Afghanistan on May 26, 2008, when he took part in a high-risk daytime operation to capture an insurgent leader in a compound in Paktia province, near the Pakistan border.
As helicopters delivered Petry and the other Rangers into the area, they were met with heavy automatic weapons fire. Petry and Sgt. Lucas Robinson were wounded as they moved to secure a back courtyard. The two found cover behind a chicken coop and were joined by Sgt. Daniel Higgins, a team leader, who was assessing their wounds when an enemy grenade injured Robinson and Higgins.
Two more Rangers, Staff Sgt. James Roberts and Spc. Christopher Gathercole, came to help just as another grenade was lobbed at the unit.
“Every human impulse would tell a person to turn away,” Obama said. “Every soldier is trained to seek cover. That’s what Sergeant Petry could have done.” Instead, he said, Petry did something extraordinary: he picked up the grenade to throw it back.
“What compels a person to risk everything so that others might live?” the president asked. He said the “roots of Leroy’s valor are all around us” in the presence of his parents, four brothers, and other family members. Obama said Petry answered the question while meeting with him before the ceremony, saying that his fellow soldiers are his brothers, and he protected them just as he would his family.
“With that selfless act, Leroy saved two of his Ranger brothers, and they are with us today,” he said.
Petry, shot in both legs by assault-rifle fire, picked up the grenade to throw it back at the enemy, and it detonated, amputating his right hand. Still, Obama said, Petry “remained calm, put on his own tourniquet, and continued to lead, even telling medics how to treat his wounds.”
Today, Petry has a small plaque attached to his prosthetic arm with names of the 75th Regiment’s fallen, including Gathercole, who was killed in the operation for which Petry was honored. Obama paid tribute to Gathercole’s family at today’s ceremony.
“Leroy Petry shows us that true heroes still exist, and they are closer than you think,” the president said. “There are heroes all around us. They are the millions in uniform who have served for the past 10 years.” They are the force behind the force, the president added, citing Ashley Petry, who kept their family “Army strong” while her husband was deployed.
Petry, who enlisted in 1999 and also served two deployments in Iraq, could have retired with honors. Instead, Obama said, he chose to re-enlist indefinitely, and recently completed his eighth deployment in Afghanistan, despite continuing to struggle with his wounds.
“His service speaks to the very essence of America: no matter how hard the journey, no matter how steep the climb, we don’t give up,” the president said.
| Related Sites: Special Report: Medal of Honor Heroes of Iraq and Afghanistan Army Special Report: Medal of Honor, Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry Remarks |
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That would be like Amy Winehouse giving an award for sobriety.
That would be like Amy Winehouse giving an award for sobriety.
Hooah!
I’m surprised it didn’t burn his fingers when he touched it!
A hearty salute to this young, brave man.
Thank you.
Too bad the award was given to the Soldier by a Radical Socialist. I wouldn’t that filthy persons contamination on it.
My guess is Obama thought Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry was a Medal of Honor “Winner”.
BO, a useless POS and an American traitor.
Congrats to Sgt 1st Call Petry.
Well done, Ranger and thank you. You are an inspiration to us all.
I hope that at some time he can have the medal re-awarded by someone who is really President and not a marxist usurping POS.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to
Staff Sergeant Leroy A. Petry
United States Army
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
Staff Sergeant Leroy A. Petry distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy in the vicinity of Paktya Province, Afghanistan, on May 26, 2008. As a Weapons Squad Leader with D Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Staff Sergeant Petry moved to clear the courtyard of a house that potentially contained high-value combatants. While crossing the courtyard, Staff Sergeant Petry and another Ranger were engaged and wounded by automatic weapons fire from enemy fighters. Still under enemy fire, and wounded in both legs, Staff Sergeant Petry led the other Ranger to cover. He then reported the situation and engaged the enemy with a hand grenade, providing suppression as another Ranger moved to his position. The enemy quickly responded by maneuvering closer and throwing grenades. The first grenade explosion knocked his two fellow Rangers to the ground and wounded both with shrapnel. A second grenade then landed only a few feet away from them. Instantly realizing the danger, Staff Sergeant Petry, unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his safety, deliberately and selflessly moved forward, picked up the grenade, and in an effort to clear the immediate threat, threw the grenade away from his fellow Rangers. As he was releasing the grenade it detonated, amputating his right hand at the wrist and further injuring him with multiple shrapnel wounds. Although picking up and throwing the live grenade grievously wounded Staff Sergeant Petry, his gallant act undeniably saved his fellow Rangers from being severely wounded or killed. Despite the severity of his wounds, Staff Sergeant Petry continued to maintain the presence of mind to place a tourniquet on his right wrist before communicating the situation by radio in order to coordinate support for himself and his fellow wounded Rangers. Staff Sergeant Petry’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service, and reflect great credit upon himself, 75th Ranger Regiment, and the United States Army.
Is it me or why does it seem to cheapen any award presented by that fraud in the WH.
Awesome for the Ranger, but I friggin HATE the title! This Ranger earned it and Bam was simply in office to perform the ceremony!
My God, the difference in personal integrity between the two is staggering.
So, Obama didn't award this man - Congress did and Obama, with horror in his heart, had to present it.
At least Obummer pronounced “Ranger” correctly. I wonder how many times he practiced it?
I can tell you with absolute surety, that were I to receive this medal, neither I nor any any member of my family would participate in any ceremony orchestrated by this adminstration.
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