Last Tuesday, Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry of the U.S. Army Rangers, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism while in Afghanistan in May 2008. Petry is only the 2nd living recipient of the military's highest honor since the Vietnam War. He was given the medal during a ceremony held at the White House, which was one of 9 the distinguished awards- 7 posthumously- during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.Petry received the medal for his heroic actions on May 26, 2008 while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan's Paktia province. During a mid-day raid on a taliban compound, Petry responded to another squad's aid as he as Pfc Lucas Robinson entered a courtyard to prevent 3 enemy fighters from attacking fellow soldiers. At that point, Petry was shot through both legs and- though wounded- led the younger soldier to safety behind a chicken coop.
After they settled the structure, Sgt. Daniel Higgins came to offer help. Then Higgins and Robinson, too, got wounded when a taliban fighter threw a grenade at the trio. When another grenade landed in their midst, Petry reacted immediately and grabbed in an effort to throw it away from them. The grenade exploded in Petry's hand, yet his act of heroism saved their lives. With his hand completely amputated to the wrist, Petry stopped the bleeding and radioed in a request for help. His brave actions saved numerous lives that day, yet he insists that it was just "almost instinct; off training". Well, thanks to his remarkable instinct, he will forever be one of our nation's great heroes.
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