Medal of Honor Winner–Another Living Recipient

Wounded Ranger awarded Medal of Honor

Newest Medal of Honor winner, Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry; Photo credit: ABC News

E-7 from 75th Ranger Regiment is 2nd living recipient since Afghanistan, Iraq wars began

An Army Ranger who lost his right hand and suffered shrapnel wounds after throwing a grenade away from his fellow soldiers will receive the Medal of Honor July 12, the White House announced Tuesday.

Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry will be the second living Medal of Honor recipient from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Petry, like Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, who received the nation’s highest award for valor in November, will be honored for actions while serving in Afghanistan.

Petry, 31, will be recognized for his actions during combat operations May 26, 2008, in Paktya, Afghanistan.

“It’s very humbling to know that the guys thought that much of me and my actions that day, to nominate me for that,” Petry said when he learned he had been nominated for the medal, according to an Army news story.

In 2008, Petry was assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

On May 26, 2008, the soldiers were conducting a rare daytime raid to capture a high-value target, according to the Army.

Read on…