Afghan war hero getting Medal of Honor

WASHINGTON, June 1 (UPI) -- A Ranger who lost his hand throwing a grenade away from his comrades is the second living Afghanistan veteran to win the Medal of Honor, the U.S. Army says.

Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry will receive the highest military honor from President Barack Obama July 12, the Army News Service announced Tuesday.

During a daytime raid in Paktia province on May 26, 2008, Petry and another Ranger entered a courtyard where enemy fighters shot them.

Three other rangers came to their aid, and when a grenade landed, the already-wounded Petry tossed it away. His right hand was destroyed, and he applied a tourniquet to his own arm before medics arrived.

Petry now serves at Fort Benning, Ga., where he works with the wounded and their families.

He is the ninth serviceman to earn the Medal of Honor in Afghanistan and Iraq. All but Petry and Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta were killed.