The Latest Recipient of the Medal of Honor
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Every so often, a story comes across the wires that reminds me why this country is great. Invariably, the story of Medal of Honor winners fill me with a sense of overwhelming pride and admiration for the men and women serving this country. On the other hand, losing such heroes is often the tragic ending to such stories. In November, Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta was the first man to join this pantheon of great American heroes in my lifetime and survive.
Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry is the latest living Medal of Honor recipient. From CNN,
Already wounded by a bullet that went through both his legs, Petry picked up an enemy grenade that landed near him and two fellow Rangers and threw it back toward the enemy... The grenade detonated and blew off Petry's right hand. Petry applied a tourniquet to his wound and called for help.
I do not like grand pronouncements, but we all really do owe him our undying gratitude for his service to our country and demonstrating the extraordinary capabilities of great men and women.
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May '10
Re: The Latest Recipient of the Medal of Honor
Thanks.
Apr '11
Re: The Latest Recipient of the Medal of Honor
President Obama hasn't gotten much right, but in awarding the Medal of Honor for valorous acts above and beyond the call of duty that our soldiers have survived, he's right on the money.
May '11
Re: The Latest Recipient of the Medal of Honor
I highly recommend Sebastian Jungers" lastest book "War". He made an excellent point about heroism. He explains that when soldiers do something heroic they are doing what they've been trained to do. What makes them heroic is that they had the courageous fortitude to join a combat unit and put themselves in the line of fire.
Dec '10
Re: The Latest Recipient of the Medal of Honor
Can't agree thelonious. As President Obama said during the presentation ceremony, soldiers are trained to take cover when a grenade lands a few feet away. Picking it up and throwing it back at the enemy, and then maintaining one's composure enough after having one's hand blown off and being riddled with shrapnel to apply one's own tourniquet and radio for help, and then direct the medics as to one's care, is above and beyond. And the reason for Petry's award.
May '11
Re: The Latest Recipient of the Medal of Honor
It wasn't my intention to diminish the heroism of Leroy Petry. His actions were extraordinary. My point is that heroes are often made well before they do something heroic.
Jul '11
Re: The Latest Recipient of the Medal of Honor
I have had the extreme pleasure of caring for many hundreds of vets and every time they have thanked me they get the same response,"No , Thank You!"
Thank You Sgt Petry!
Jul '10
Re: The Latest Recipient of the Medal of Honor
Hopefully, in future speeches, the President will be able to remember SFC Petry's name and whether or not he is alive.
Maybe he could write it on his hand or something.
Jun '11
Re: The Latest Recipient of the Medal of Honor
Having been through USMC Basic and Infantry training, we're not taught that sort of courage.
That's something innate to that soldier, above and beyond whatever courage training instills.
Ooh rah, SFC Petry.
Mar '11
Re: The Latest Recipient of the Medal of Honor
The picture and Michael's comment remind me of Jonah Goldberg's latest piece - the office of the President awards the medal, not the empty suit (with well-creased pants) sitting behind the desk, with his feet up on it (I hope he hasn't left any marks).
Edited on Jul 13, 2011 at 3:36amMay '11
Re: The Latest Recipient of the Medal of Honor
Pedantic point: It's not called the "Congressional Medal of Honor." It's named the "Medal of Honor." I don't know why people put "Congressional" in front, but it's incorrect.
There is a society supported by Congress named the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, but that's a Congressional Society for the Medal of Honor, not a Society for the Congressional Medal of Honor.
You may now resume your non-pedantic lives. I feel much better.
Edited on Jul 13, 2011 at 1:53amApr '11
Re: The Latest Recipient of the Medal of Honor
My response unrelated to main post:
John Krakauer has a new book as well, Where men Win Glory, which discusses Pat Tillman in primarily, but addresses the Marines in Nasiriyah and Jessica Lynch as well. His conclusion, tangentially related to what you say about Junger, is that masculinity is dead or dying. Make no mistake, the book is an anti-war, anti-Bush piece three years too late, but Krakauer often skips across deeper truths. ("I lament the loss of manliness, but despise the actions manliness takes men to make.")
If you're willing to sit through Krakauer and Tillman's praise for Chompsky, it is still an excellent read. Whatever Krakauer's politics, the man has a gift for character study (see also, Into the Wild).
May '10
Re: The Latest Recipient of the Medal of Honor
Skyler: Pedantic point: It's not called the "Congressional Medal of Honor." It's named the "Medal of Honor." I don't know why people put "Congressional" in front, but it's incorrect.
Edited on Jul 13 at 01:53 am
Dec '10
Re: The Latest Recipient of the Medal of Honor
This guy was a seriously bad dude before, and now he's got a friggin' hook or one of those bionic hands.
Even Chuck Norris doesn't have a hook!