Sergeant getting Medal of Honor is a hero's hero

AP ^ | June 9, 2011 | DONNA GORDON BLANKINSHIP

[PROCON]

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AP) - The soldiers who served with the Army sergeant set to receive the Medal of Honor next month because of his actions in Afghanistan say he's a hero who's maintained his sharp wit and plans to "keep rangering.'" After he had been shot in both legs, Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry didn't just lose his hand while throwing an enemy grenade away from himself and two fellow Army Rangers. As they continued to fight a small armed group, Petry kept calling out orders and helping his unit fulfill its mission and get the injured men the medical help they needed.

[PROCON]

In 1979, I was stationed right next door to the 2/75th Ranger Battalion, with the 2/3 Field Artillery, we would do our morning 3 mile run and the Rangers would keep on going, and going, and going..., right past and beyond the C-130 mock-up (Those who were at Ft. Lewis know what I mean) and back again.

Kudos to the 2/75th!

Thank you SFC Petry!!

[vbmoneyspender]

It’s funny - I can’t recall the AP reporting these kinds of heroic stories when Bush was President. Am I being overly cynical to believe that they are reporting these stories now in order to help Obama?

[Rome2000]

They might call it the "Congressional Medal of Honor", but the POTUS is the one who names the recipient in the name of Congress.

This guy is a hero, like dozens of others, and this is a political stunt.

And he ought to tell Hussein thanks, but he's not for sale.

[freedumb2003]

>>It’s funny - I can’t recall the AP reporting these kinds of heroic stories when Bush was President. Am I being overly cynical to believe that they are reporting these stories now in order to help Obama?<<

I get your point but I don’t think it matters.

America produces heroes like this (and this is clearly the correct use of the word) and we owe them our gratitude and admiration — under ANY administration.

[freedumb2003]

Cross post/ping about one heck of a soldier to the Canteen!

[Rome2000]

AP is giving PRAVDA a run for its money these days.

Goebbels had a good run too, but it turned out bad in the end.

[luvie]

Thanks for the ping for this hero! I’m just relieved that he
is a living recipient. God bless him...and God bless you!

[bigdaddy45]

So are you saying he should turn it down because Obama happens to be the President?

[Rome2000]

It would be the right thing to do.

Not trying to say he's not a hero, but many more have done what he did, and more, like actually kill some enemy in the process(Sgt. Rafael Peralta) .

I'll say this again, its a political stunt by a communist actively seeking to destroy the American economy, who has a fake social security number, and has been on vacation for the last 3 years with small breaks in between to sign unconstitutional legislation, nationalize industries,enrich his family and friends, and loot the treasury.

How do you accept a medal of honor from someone who doesn't have any?.

[Smokin' Joe]

How do you accept a medal of honor from someone who doesn't have any?.

The person presenting it is, in this case representing the American People (for a change).

I think this soldier can look beyond the delivery boy and receive the thanks and admiration of a grateful nation.

[Americanexpat]

Since when does the president choose the medal of Honor recipient? People get recommended and it goes before an awards board a lot of times the award in downgraded and occasionally people who have been awarded a navy Cross or Distinguished Service Cross are upgraded to the MOH.

[huldah1776]

Yup! And every PUBLIC school child should watch the ceremony live on their classroom TVs and the middle school and high school kids should have to read the story. I bawled my eyes out after reading it the other day.