Washington23 - Breaking News and Updates

Today the President awarded the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry. Sergeant Petry is the second living Medal of Honor recipient to haveearned the award for service during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was an incredible event.

Sergeant Petry, an Army Ranger, was honoredfor his actions during a deployment to Afghanistan in 2008. While on a high-risk daytime mission, Petry and two of his comrades were injured by enemy fire. Despite his wounds, Petry continued to lead his soldiers, dragging one who had been injured to cover. When an enemy grenade landed near him and his comrades, Sergeant Petry moved toward the grenade and picked it up tothrow it back – saving the lives of his fellow Rangers. As he cocked his arm tolob the live grenade away, it exploded. Petry lost his hand, but did not give up the fight. He tied a tourniquet around his own bleeding arm and continued to direct the operation, working to ensure the safety of his comrades until the end of the mission.
read more

Via: White House.gov Blog Feed