lorella, and his four brothers. growing up, the walls of their home were hung with pictures of grandfathers and uncles in uniform. leading the young leroy to believe, that s my calling, too. we see it in the compassion of a high school student who overcame creed: never shall i fail my comrades. or as leroy puts it, these are my brothers, family, just like my wife and kids. in and you protect the ones you love. and that s what he did that day when he picked up that grenade and threw it back just as it exploded. with that selfless act, leroy saved his two ranger brothers. they are with us today.
their heroism. martha: this is sergeants petry who is about to serve the medal of honor. ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states accompanied by medal of honor recipient sergeant first class leroy petry
this valor came with a price. the force of the blast took leroy s right hand. shrapnel riddled his body. said one of his teammates, i d never seen someone hurt so bad. so even his fellow rangers were amazed at what leroy did next. despite his grievous wounds, he remained calm. he actually put on his own tourniquet, and he continued to lead, directing his team, giving orders, even telling the medics how to treat his woundsment wounds. when the fight was won, as he lay on a stretcher being loaded onto a helicopter, one of his teammates came up to shake the hand that leroy had left. that was the first time i shook the hand of someone who i considered to be a true american hero, that ranger said. leroy petri showed that true heros still exist and that they re closer than you think.
the life grenade, the staff sergeant s gallant act undeniably saved his fellow rangers from being severely wounded or killed. despite the severity of his wounds, he placed tourniquet on his right wrist before communicating the situation by radio in order to coordinate support for himself and his fellow wounded rangers. staff sergeant p eric try 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.
enemy fighters. still under enemy fire and wounded with both legs, staff sergeant led the other ranger to cover. he then reported the situation and engaged the enemy with a hand grenade providing suppression as another ranger moved to his position. the enemy quickly responded. the first grenade explosion knocked his two fellow rangers to the ground and wounded both with shrapnel. a second get mate then landed only a few feet away from them. instantly realizing the danger, staff sergeant petry unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his safety deliberately and selflessly moved forward, picked up the grenade, and in the effort to clear the immediate threat, threw the grenade away from his fellow rangers. as he was releasing the grenade, it detonated, amputating his right hand at the wrist and further jurorring him with multiuntil schaap knell wounds. although picking up and throwing