Leroy Arthur Petry

Throwing a live grenade away to save his fellow Army Rangers

Leroy Arthur Petry was born on 29 July 1979 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He graduated from Saint Catherine’s Indian High School in May 1998 and worked in transportation maintenance and sign making before enlisting in the U.S. Army in September 1999. He volunteered for the 75th Ranger Regiment and joined its 2nd Battalion after infantry and airborne training and Ranger selection. His assignments included grenadier, automatic rifleman, team leader, squad leader and operations sergeant. He completed eight deployments, two to Iraq and six to Afghanistan.

As a staff sergeant and weapons squad leader in Company D, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Petry took part in a daylight raid in Paktya Province, Afghanistan, on 26 May 2008. Shot through both legs, he helped another wounded Ranger reach cover and coordinated support. When an enemy grenade landed near his companions, he picked it up and threw it away. It exploded as he released it, severing his right hand. He applied a tourniquet and continued reporting by radio. His actions saved fellow Rangers.

Petry continued serving with a prosthetic hand and reenlisted in 2010. As a care liaison, he supported wounded and ill Rangers and their families. President Barack Obama presented his Medal of Honor at the White House on 12 July 2011, when Petry was a sergeant first class. He medically retired as a master sergeant in July 2014 after nearly 15 years of service. He continued supporting Soldiers and veterans; an Army report in November 2020 described his advocacy through the Association of the United States Army and visits with wounded veterans to military installations.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Staff Sergeant Leroy A. Petry distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy in the vicinity of Paktya Province, Afghanistan, on May 26, 2008. As a Weapons Squad Leader with D Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Staff Sergeant Petry moved to clear the courtyard of a house that potentially contained high-value combatants. While crossing the courtyard, Staff Sergeant Petry and another Ranger were engaged and wounded by automatic weapons fire from enemy fighters. Still under enemy fire, and wounded in both legs, Staff Sergeant Petry 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 by maneuvering closer and throwing grenades. The first grenade explosion knocked his two fellow Rangers to the ground and wounded both with shrapnel. A second grenade 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 an 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 injuring him with multiple shrapnel wounds. Although picking up and throwing the live grenade grievously wounded Staff Sergeant Petry, his gallant act undeniably saved his fellow Rangers from being severely wounded or killed. Despite the severity of his wounds, Staff Sergeant Petry continued to maintain the presence of mind to place a 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 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.