26 May

SSG LEROY A. PETRY
Company D,  2nd Bn
75th Ranger Regiment
Paktya Province, Afghanistan.

Ssg Petry was clearing a courtyard belonging to a house that was believed to be hiding high-value combatants.

Staff Sergeant Petry and another Ranger were engaged and both wounded by automatic weapons fire.  Wounded in both legs, Staff Sergeant Petry led the other wounded Ranger to place of cover. …

Petry called in a sit-rep then engaged the enemy with a hand grenade, and provided covering fire as other Rangers moved to his position.

The enemy responded by throwing grenades. The first grenade wounded both his fellow Rangers, throwing them to the ground.

Instantly realizing the danger, Staff Sergeant Petry with complete disregard for his safety, moved toward the grenade grabbing  it to throw it clear of his Rangers.

As he released the explosive it detonated  amputating his right hand at the wrist.

Staff Sergeant Petry, undeniably saved his fellow Rangers from being severely wounded or killed.

As if this were not enough and in spite of the severity of his wounds, Staff Sergeant Petry continued to maintain the presence of mind to tie off his right wrist then call in a Sit rep and coordinate support for himself and his fellow wounded Rangers.

The last line of Staff Sergeant Petry’s  Medal of Honor Citation reads:

”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.