Army Ranger to get Medal of Honor for heroics in Afghanistan

Army Ranger to get Medal of Honor for heroics in Afghanistan
From Brad Lendon, CNN
July 12, 2011 5:30 a.m. EDT

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Petry will be the second living Medal of Honor recipient from the Iraq and Afghan wars
He was wounded by a bullet that went through both legs while serving in Afghanistan
He then picked up an enemy grenade and tossed it away from fellow soldiers
If not for Petry's actions, "we would have been seriously injured or killed," a Ranger writes

(CNN) -- An Army Ranger who lost his right hand while tossing an enemy grenade away from fellow soldiers in Afghanistan will be awarded the Medal of Honor on Tuesday.

Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry will be the second living recipient of the Medal of Honor from the Iraq and Afghan wars, according to the U.S. military. President Barack Obama will present the award to Petry.

"It's very humbling to know that the guys thought that much of me and my actions that day, to nominate me for that," Petry said, according to an Army News Service report.

Petry is being awarded the medal for actions on May 26, 2008, in Paktia, Afghanistan.

Already wounded by a bullet that went through both his legs, Petry picked up an enemy grenade that landed near him and two fellow Rangers and threw it back toward the enemy, according to the Army News Service. The grenade detonated and amputated Petry's right hand. Petry applied a tourniquet to his wound and called for help.

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Army Ranger to get Medal of Honor for heroics in Afghanistan