SSGT. Leroy Arthur Petry

 (US Army)

 

On this day, 17 years ago, on May 26, 2008, Staff Sergeant Leroy Arthur Petry,

28 years old, was serving with D Company, 2nd Battalion,

75th Ranger Regiment during a daylight raid in Paktya Province, Afghanistan.

His unit was tasked with capturing a high-value Taliban target known to be operating in the area.

The mission took place in a compound near the town of Paktya

and involved multiple assault elements moving in on foot and by helicopter insertion.

 

The operation began as planned, but once Petry

and his team entered the compound and began clearing buildings,

they came under sudden and intense enemy fire.

As Petry and another Ranger, Private First Class Lucas Robinson,

moved to secure a courtyard area, they were both hit by AK-47 fire from a nearby enemy fighter.

Petry was shot through both thighs. Robinson took a round to his side plate.

Despite his wounds, Petry remained mobile.

 

Petry led Robinson to a small chicken coop that offered partial cover from the enemy gunfire.

He radioed their status to the rest of the team and called for reinforcements

and medics. Sergeant Daniel Higgins arrived shortly after to assist,

moving into the courtyard and taking cover with Petry and Robinson.

 

At that moment, an enemy fighter threw a grenade into their position.

It landed just a few feet from the three Rangers.

The grenade was live and seconds from detonating.

Without hesitation, Petry reached out, grabbed the grenade,

and threw it away from his teammates.

The grenade exploded just as it left his hand.

The blast severed Petry’s right hand at the wrist and sent shrapnel into his body.

 

Bleeding heavily and in shock, Petry remained conscious and calm.

He moved to apply a tourniquet to his arm, using one from his kit and tightening it himself.

He continued to give directions and coordinated with the rest of the assault force,

ensuring that his team was responding to the enemy contact

and that the wounded were being treated.

 

His actions drew enemy fire away from others in the courtyard

and allowed the Rangers to regain control of the fight.

Other Rangers were able to eliminate the enemy fighters in the compound shortly after.

Petry’s decision to throw the grenade not only saved Robinson

and Higgins from likely death or severe injury,

but also maintained the momentum of the mission.

 

Despite his injuries, Petry recovered and remained in the Army.

He received a prosthetic hand and returned to active duty.

He later deployed again with the 75th Ranger Regiment

before eventually retiring with the rank of Sergeant First Class.

 

For his actions that day,

Petry was awarded the

* Medal of Honor *.

He became the second living

recipient of the Medal for actions in the wars in Iraq or

Afghanistan.

 

SSGT. Leroy Arthur Petry
(미 육군)

17년 전 오늘, 2008년 

5월 26일, 28세의 

Leroy Arthur Petry 하사는

 아프가니스탄

 파크티아 주에서 

주간 습격 작전을 수행 중이던 

제75 레인저 연대 제2대대

 D중대 소속이었습니다. 

그의 부대는 해당 지역에서

 활동 중인 것으로 알려진 

중요 탈레반 표적을 

포획하는 임무를 맡았습니다. 

임무는 파크티아 마을

 인근의 한 구역에서 

진행되었으며, 

여러 공격 부대가 도보로

 이동하고 헬리콥터를 

이용하여 진입했습니다.

작전은 계획대로 

시작되었지만, Petry와

그의 팀은 구역에 진입하여 

건물들을 소탕하기 

시작하자마자 

갑작스럽고 격렬한 

적의 총격을 받았습니다. 

Petry와 또 다른 레인저인

 일등병

 Luca Robinson은 안뜰 

지역을 확보하기 위해 

이동하던 중 근처 적군의

 AK-47 사격에 맞았습니다. 

Petry는 양쪽 허벅지에 

총을 맞았고, Robinson은

 측면에 총상을 입었습니다. 

부상에도 불구하고

 페트리는 움직일 수 

있었습니다.

페트리는 로빈슨을 

적의 총격을 부분적으로

 막아줄 수 있는 작은

 닭장으로 안내했습니다. 

그는 나머지 팀원들에게

 닭장의 상황을 무전으로 

알리고 증원군과 의무병을

 요청했습니다. 

다니엘 히긴스 상사가 곧 

도착하여 안뜰로 이동하여 

페트리와 로빈슨에게 

엄호했습니다.

바로 그때, 적군 병사 

한 명이 그들이 있는 곳에 

수류탄을 던졌습니다.

 수류탄은 세 명의 

레인저스에게서 불과 

몇 피트 떨어진 곳에 

떨어졌습니다. 

수류탄은 작동

 중이었고 몇 초 안에 

폭발할 것이었습니다.

 페트리는 망설임 없이 손을

 뻗어 수류탄을 잡아 

동료들에게서 

던져버렸습니다. 

수류탄은 그의 손에서

 떠나자마자 폭발했습니다.

 폭발로 페트리의 오른손

 손목이 절단되었고

 파편이 그의 몸에 

박혔습니다.

피가 많이 나고 충격에 빠진

 페트리는 의식을 잃지 않고 

침착함을 유지했습니다. 

그는 장비에서 지혈대를

 꺼내 직접 조여 팔에 

지혈대를 감았습니다. 

그는 계속해서 지시를 

내리고 나머지 공격 부대와

 협력하여,  그의 팀이 적의 

접촉에 대응하고 

부상자들이 치료받고 

있는지 확인했습니다.

그의 행동은 안뜰에 있던 

다른 부대원들의 적의

 사격을 분산시켜

 레인저스가 전투를 다시

 주도할 수 있도록 했습니다.

 다른 레인저스 대원들은

 곧 이어 기지 안의 적들을 

제거했습니다. 

페트리가 수류탄을 

던지기로 한 결정은 

로빈슨과 히긴스를 

사망이나 중상을 면하게 

했을 뿐만 아니라 

임무의 추진력을 

유지했습니다.

부상에도 불구하고 

페트리는 회복하여 군에

 남았습니다. 

그는 의수를 받고 현역으로

복귀했습니다. 

이후 제75 레인저 연대에

 다시 배치되었고, 

결국 중사 계급으로 

전역했습니다.

그날의 활약으로 페트리는
*명예 훈장*을

수여받았습니다.
그는 이라크와 아프가니스탄 전쟁에서 공로 훈장을 받은

두 번째 생존자

명예훈장 수상자가 

되었습니다.

 

 

2025년 5월 27일