WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor to an Army sergeant based in Washington state for courage on the battlefield in Afghanistan.
The White House says Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry will receive the nation’s highest military decoration in a ceremony July 12.
In its announcement, the White House said the 31-year-old native of Santa Fe, N.M., was being recognized for courageous actions during combat operations against an armed enemy in the eastern Afghan province of Paktia in May 2008.
The White House says Petry will be the second living, active-duty service member to receive a Medal of Honor for actions in the Iraq or Afghanistan wars. Last year, Obama awarded a Medal of honor to Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta, also for actions in Afghanistan.
Petry is currently assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment and attached to Special Operations Command at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. He tracks and monitors injured Rangers returning from deployment.
