“Recognizing the threat that the enemy grenade posed to his fellow Rangers, Petry—despite his own wounds and with complete disregard for his personal safety—consciously and deliberately risked his life to move to and secure the live enemy grenade and consciously throw the grenade away from his fellow Rangers…. As Petry released the grenade in the direction of the enemy…it detonated and catastrophically amputated his right hand.”

—From the U.S. Army’s account of the actions of Leroy Arthur Petry, assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, while in Afghanistan in 2008. President Obama will award Petry the Medal of Honor on July 12.