View Full Version : Sergeant First Class Leroy Arthur Petry, Awarded Medal of Honor
RLTW.. Congratulations SFC Petry
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
May 31, 2011
ADVISORY: President Obama to Award Medal of Honor
On July 12th, President Barack Obama will award Sergeant First Class Leroy Arthur Petry, U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. Sergeant First Class Petry will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions during combat operations against an armed enemy in Paktya, Afghanistan in May, 2008. He will be the second living, active duty service member to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. Sergeant First Class Petry’s wife, Ashley, and other family members will join the President at the White House to commemorate his example of selfless service.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND:
Leroy Arthur Petry was born on July 29, 1979. He is a native of Santé Fe, New Mexico and enlisted in the United States Army in September 1999. He attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Sergeant First Class Petry is currently assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment and attached to Special Operations Command (SOCOM) with duty at Joint Base Lewis McChord as a liaison for the SOCOM Care Coalition where he tracks and monitors injured Rangers returning from the Theater of Operations to the initial place of care to home station care.
Sergeant First Class Petry has completed multiple combat tours to Afghanistan and Iraq totaling 28 months of deployment.
His military decorations include: two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal, three Army Good Conduct Medals, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, to name a few.
http://m.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/05/31/advisory-president-obama-award-medal-honor
Job well done SFC Petry.
BT
It will be interesting to watch this unfold in the MSM, I hope it gets the proper coverage and back story.
A little more detail:
http://www.stripes.com/news/army-ranger-to-be-awarded-medal-of-honor-1.145202?localLinksEnabled=false&
WASHINGTON -- An Army Ranger who lost his right hand and suffered shrapnel wounds after throwing an armed grenade away from his fellow Soldiers will be the second living Medal of Honor Recipient from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On July 12th, President Barack Obama will award Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry, with the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. Petry will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions during combat operations against an armed enemy in Paktya, Afghanistan, May 26, 2008.
Petry now serves as part of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga.
"It's very humbling to know that the guys thought that much of me and my actions that day, to nominate me for that," said Petry, on learning he had been nominated for the medal.
At the time of his actions in Afghanistan, Petry was assigned to Company A, 2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Petry's 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 Honor, he was to locate himself with the platoon headquarters in the target building once it was secured. Once there, he was to serve as the senior noncommissioned officer at the site for the remainder of the operation.
Recognizing one of the assault squads needed assistance 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.
Once the residential portion of the building had been cleared, Petry took a fellow member of the assault squad, Pvt. 1st Class Lucas Robinson, to clear the outer courtyard. Petry knew that 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 engage friendly forces from opposite ends of the outer courtyard.
The two Soldiers entered the courtyard. To their front was an opening followed by a chicken coop. As the two crossed the open area, an enemy insurgent fired on them. Petry was wounded by one round, which went through both of his legs. Robinson was also hit in his side plate by a separate round.
While wounded and under enemy fire, Petry led Robinson to the cover of the chicken coop. The enemy continued to deliver fire at the two Soldiers.
As 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 primary target building.
Upon hearing the report of two wounded Rangers, Sgt. Daniel Higgins, a team leader, moved to the outer courtyard. As Higgins was moving to Petry and Robinson's position, Petry threw a thermobaric grenade in the vicinity of the enemy position.
Shortly after that grenade exploded -- which created a lull in the enemy fire -- Higgins arrived at the chicken 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 about 10 meters from the three Rangers, knocked them to the ground, and wounded Higgins and Robinson. Shortly 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 chicken coop, an enemy fighter threw another grenade at them. This time, the grenade landed just a few feet from Higgins and Robinson.
Recognizing the threat that the enemy grenade posed to his fellow Rangers, Petry -- despite his own wounds and with complete disregard 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 fellow Rangers, according to battlefield reports.
As Petry released the grenade in the direction of the enemy, preventing the serious injury or death of Higgins and Robinson, it detonated and catastrophically amputated his right hand.
With a clear mind, Petry assessed his wound and placed a tourniquet on his right arm. Once this was complete, he reported that he was still in contact with the enemy and that he had been wounded again.
After the blast that amputated Petry's hand, Roberts began to engage the enemy behind the chicken coop with small arms fire and a grenade. His actions suppressed the insurgents behind the chicken coop. Shortly after, another enemy on the east end of the courtyard began firing, fatally wounding Gathercole.
Higgins and Robinson returned fire and killed the enemy.
Moments later, Sgt. 1st Class Jerod Staidle, the platoon sergeant, and Spc. Gary Depriest, the platoon medic, arrived in the outer courtyard. After directing Depriest to treat Gathercole, Staidle moved to Petry' s position. Staidle and Higgins then assisted Petry as he moved to the casualty collection point.
Higgins later wrote in a statement, "if not for Staff Sergeant Petry's actions, we would have been seriously wounded or killed."
Petry is the ninth servicemember to have been named a recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Of prior recipients, all but Petry and Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta were awarded the honor posthumously.
Included among those recipients are Spc. Ross A. McGinnis, Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, and Marine Corps Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, all for actions in Iraq. Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, Staff Sgt. Robert Miller, Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti and Navy Lt. Michael P. Murphy were awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan.
Petry currently serves as a liaison officer for the United States Special Operations Command Care Coalition-Northwest Region, and provides oversight to wounded warriors, ill and injured service members and their families.
He enlisted in the United States Army from his hometown of Santa Fe, N.M. in September 1999. After completion of One Station Unit Training, the Basic Airborne Course and the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program -- all at Fort Benning, Ga. -- Petry was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Petry has served as a grenadier, squad automatic rifleman, fire team leader, squad leader, operations sergeant, and weapons squad leader.
He has deployed eight times in support of the War on Terror with two tours to Iraq and six tours to Afghanistan.
ObliqueApproach
05-31-2011, 20:03
Just attended my son's OSUT graduation at Benning and took a run out to Harmony Church. Things have changed, but not the Ranger Department...still there, still driving on! RLTW....well done SFC Petry!
craigepo
05-31-2011, 20:10
Great job SFC Petry. An Alpha-bot no doubt.
Inspiring.
Richard :munchin
Awesome....and he is still among the living....even better!!
Congrats to SFC Petry, Hell of a story.
MTN Medic
05-31-2011, 20:41
Well done brother! :lifter
Job well done SFC Petry.
Awesome story
Fine fine Soldier. I am so glad DoD is allowing disabled wounded warriors to continue service.
Fine fine Soldier. I am so glad DoD is allowing disabled wounded warriors to continue service.
I echo THIS quote. I am also glad to see the DoD allowing disabled service members to continue to wear the uniform and function as part of the team.
Congrats to SFC Petry.
Well deserved.
:lifter
112thSOLCA
05-31-2011, 21:38
I met Leroy last year at Madigan Army Medical Center. He is a kind, caring, inspirational leader who is dedicated to his troops whether they be Rangers on the battlefield or wounded Special Operations Soldiers in a hospital.
Honor well deserved - congratulations Leroy
Goggles Pizano
05-31-2011, 22:52
A deserved decoration to an outstanding soldier! Congratulations SFC Petry, and thank you for your service.
LongWire
06-01-2011, 00:26
I met Leroy last year at Madigan Army Medical Center. He is a kind, caring, inspirational leader who is dedicated to his troops whether they be Rangers on the battlefield or wounded Special Operations Soldiers in a hospital.
Honor well deserved - congratulations Leroy
I know Leroy as well and he is an exceptional Ranger and an inspiration to us all.
Congrats Leroy........RLTW!!!!
Almualla
06-01-2011, 02:34
Fine fine Soldier. I am so glad DoD is allowing disabled wounded warriors to continue service.
Most definitely, we have few of those fine warriors in the 5-O-Duce, who with great humility I served with in `Stan.
Utah Bob
06-01-2011, 06:19
Outstanding, Ranger! Outstanding!:lifter
Congratulation to SFC Petry!!!
Congratulations SFC Petry! :lifter
Great example of a Warrior. Congratulations SFC Petry and thank you for you service!
B36reconman
06-01-2011, 08:17
Met SFC Petry in 2009 at Benning..very humble and courageous young Ranger..Congratulations..
greenberetTFS
06-01-2011, 10:40
Congrats SFC Petry,Outstanding job..........:D:D:D
Big Teddy :munchin
TOMAHAWK9521
06-01-2011, 12:40
Well done, Ranger!
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/06/09/army-rangers-recount-tale-horror-heroism-medal-honor-recipient/?test=latestnews
Excellent story. Excellent job SFC Petry.
The Reaper
06-10-2011, 09:54
Well done, Ranger.
TR
Just saw the story on Fox, the fact he's still Rangering isn't surprising.
Well done SFC Petry and congratulations.
RIP Spc Gathercole.
greenberetTFS
06-10-2011, 15:16
Awesome....and he is still among the living....even better!!
Absolutely..........:D:D:D
Big Teddy :munchin
Red Flag 1
06-10-2011, 17:15
Good on ya Ranger!
Congratulations on the award!
RF 1
Well done Ranger Petry.
RLTW!
Joshua.David
07-22-2011, 19:23
He's a good guy. Met him a few times at battalion, and he's definitely someone I would have served under.
Well done.
-josh