How Did Sfc Petry Display Honorable Service And Character

SFC Leroy Petry On July 12th President Barack Obama volition present SFC Leroy Arthur Petry with the Medal of Honor. SFC Petry is beingness awarded the medal for actions on May 26th, 2009 in Pakita, Afghanistan.

Already wounded by a bullet that went through both his legs, Petry picked up an enemy grenade that landed nigh him and 2 other rangers throwing information technology back toward the enemy. The grenade detonated and amputated Petry'due south right hand. Petry practical a tourniquet to his wound and chosen for assistance.

SFC Petry will be but the 2d living recipient of the award since the conflict in Vietnam and nineth overall in Transitional islamic state of afghanistan and Iraq. SFC Petry is married with four children. He has served two tours to Iraq and half-dozen tours to Afghanistan.

Medal of Honor Actions:
At the fourth dimension of his actions in Afghanistan, Petry was assigned to Company D, 2d Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment at Articulation Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Petry'due south actions came as part of a rare daylight raid to capture a high-value target.

On the day of the actions that would earn Petry the Medal of Award, he was to locate himself with the platoon headquarters in the target edifice once it was secured. One time at that place, he was to serve equally the senior noncommissioned officer at the site for the rest of the operation.

Recognizing one of the assail squads needed aid clearing their assigned building, Petry relayed to the platoon leader that he was moving to that squad to provide additional supervision and guidance during the clearance of the building.

In one case the residential portion of the building had been cleared, Petry took a fellow fellow member of the assail squad, Pvt. 1st Class Lucas Robinson, to clear the outer courtyard. Petry knew that surface area had not been cleared during the initial clearance.

Petry and Robinson, both Rangers, moved into an area of the compound that contained at least three enemy fighters who were prepared to appoint friendly forces from contrary ends of the outer courtyard.

The ii Soldiers entered the courtyard. To their front was an opening followed by a chicken coop. Every bit the two crossed the open area, an enemy insurgent fired on them. Petry was wounded by one circular, which went through both of his legs. Robinson was also hitting in his side plate by a separate round.

While wounded and nether enemy burn down, Petry led Robinson to the cover of the chicken coop. The enemy continued to deliver fire at the ii Soldiers.

Every bit the senior Soldier, Petry assessed the situation and reported that contact was made and that there were two wounded Rangers in the courtyard of the master target building.

Upon hearing the written report of 2 wounded Rangers, Sgt. Daniel Higgins, a squad leader, moved to the outer courtyard. Equally Higgins was moving to Petry and Robinson's position, Petry threw a thermobaric grenade in the vicinity of the enemy position.

Soon later on that grenade exploded — which created a lull in the enemy fire — Higgins arrived at the craven coop and assessed the wounds of the two Soldiers.

While Higgins evaluated their wounds, an insurgent threw a grenade over the chicken coop at the three Rangers. The grenade landed nigh x meters from the three Rangers, knocked them to the footing, and wounded Higgins and Robinson. Presently after the grenade exploded, Staff Sgt. James Roberts and Spc. Christopher Gathercole entered the courtyard, and moved toward the chicken coop.

With three Soldiers taking cover in the craven coop, an enemy fighter threw some other grenade at them. This time, the grenade landed just a few anxiety from Higgins and Robinson.

Recognizing the threat that the enemy grenade posed to his fellow Rangers, Petry — despite his ain wounds and with complete condone for his personal safety — consciously and deliberately risked his life to move to and secure the live enemy grenade and consciously throw the grenade away from his boyfriend Rangers, according to battleground reports.

As Petry released the grenade in the direction of the enemy, preventing the serious injury or death of Higgins and Robinson, information technology detonated and catastrophically amputated his correct paw.

With a clear mind, Petry assessed his wound and placed a tourniquet on his correct arm. Once this was complete, he reported that he was nonetheless in contact with the enemy and that he had been wounded over again.

After the blast that amputated Petry's hand, Roberts began to engage the enemy backside the chicken coop with pocket-size arms fire and a grenade. His actions suppressed the insurgents behind the chicken coop. Shortly later, another enemy on the east end of the courtyard began firing, fatally wounding Gathercole.

Higgins and Robinson returned burn and killed the enemy.

Moments later, Sgt. 1st Course Jerod Staidle, the platoon sergeant, and Spc. Gary Depriest, the platoon medic, arrived in the outer courtyard. After directing Depriest to care for Gathercole, Staidle moved to Petry' southward position. Staidle and Higgins and so assisted Petry as he moved to the prey collection indicate.

Higgins subsequently wrote in a statement, "if not for Staff Sergeant Petry'south actions, we would accept been seriously wounded or killed."