Three Rangers from 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment who served alongside recent Congressional Medal of Honor nominee Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry met June 9 with members of the media at the unit's headquarters on Joint Base Lewis-McChord to discuss Petry and the combat operation for which he was nominated.

Master Sgt. Steven Walter, Sgt. 1st Class Jerod Staidle and Master Sgt. Reese Teakell each gave a brief account of the operation that took place on May 26, 2008 in Paktya, Afghanistan and then answered questions from the gathered reporters.  Petry, 31, has continued on active duty since the injury and is now assigned to Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 75th Ranger Regiment as a liaison officer for the United States Special Operations Command Care Coalition with duty at Fort Bragg, N.C. He has not met with the media since his nomination was announced on May 31 and was not in attendance.

During the 2008 combat mission, Rangers from Delta Company, 2nd Battalion were charged with securing a terrorist High Value Target. During the ensuing battle, Petry and others came under enemy fire, and Petry was shot through both legs. As he was being medically evaluated for the injury, an insurgent threw a grenade nearby. Petry picked it up, preparing to throw it to safety. It exploded, destroying his right hand. However, the action saved the lives of his comrades. "If not for Staff Sergeant Petry's actions, we would have been seriously wounded or killed," wrote team leader Sgt. Daniel Higgins.

Petry is "humble but proud that he knows what he did was the right decision," said Staidle during Thursday's event. "He reacted in a way that saved guys' lives."

All of the Soldiers agreed that Petry, described as a family man dedicated to his job and his Soldiers, deserves the Medal of Honor. "One of the most heroic actions over history is diving on a grenade," said Walter. "What he did is no different ... He was placed in a situation and tested and his reaction is deserving of this award."

When he receives the award from President Barack Obama on July 12, Petry will be only the second living Medal of Honor recipient from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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