TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross

The soldier behind the medal

BY Dave Ross  on May 28, 2012 @ 9:08 am (Updated: 9:10 am - 5/28/12 )

I met a soldier recently who had received the Medal of Honor. And I wasn't sure what to expect because this is not like winning a Nobel prize, or an Olympic medal. Yes, you have to be very good at what you do to win those. But to be worthy of the Medal of Honor you have to be not just very good at what you do - but also be willing to die doing it.

Sergeant Leroy Petry and his company of Army Rangers were trying to take an enemy-controlled compound in Afghanistan when hidden guns opened up. A bullet hit him in the leg. A nearby grenade knocked them all to the ground, and then he saw another one - an old pineapple grenade - bounce into their midst. And he grabbed it, and he threw it as hard as he could. Jst as he let go his hand and part of his arm vanished in the explosion.

But he told me he didn't feel anything except the need to protect his buddies. So he tied a tourniquet around what was left of his arm, called for help, and got them out of there.

It was intimidating to meet someone - less than half my age - who had that kind of courage. But Sergeant Petry wears a big smile, and he's happy to shake your hand with his new mechanical one. And to demonstrate how, unlike his old hand, this one has a wrist that can turn 360 degrees.

Today he's still in the Army, counseling families who get the same news that his parents did the day he was injured. And he has a request: when you meet someone in uniform, you still say thanks. Maybe a thumbs up. Just to let them know YOU know there's still a war on. It means more than you might think.



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Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
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Comments (21)


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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Thank You, Sgt. Petry - And all the other heroes for all of us.
    May 28, 2012 8:41 am
    And, thanks, Dave, for posting this story. ........ Being a hero, I believe, has less to do with 'being willing to die' than simply doing what you've been trained to do but being so busy you haven't time to be scared or 'heroic'. ..................... No, let me take that back. All of our troops - be they decorated or not - who serve and are willing to give/risk their lives ARE heroes. Every one of them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    Psst Dave
    May 28, 2012 9:15 am
    It's Memorial day not Veterans Day. It's a day to remember those who fell. Sgt. Petry's actions that day were amazing for sure, but maybe a story about Lt. Murphy would be more appropriate.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    I was hoping to read
    May 28, 2012 9:41 am
    That our elected officials especially the Gov and others were out showing respect for our fallen Americans. Instead, todays news is nothing different then the continued viloence in Seattle. We have been fortunate that that there are and have been many more like Sgt Petry. Maybe the current group of "Divide America" politicians could take a lesson from Sgt Petry and sacrifice themselves just a tad and get out of ploitics so we can stand as "One Nation".
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    People do not choose to be hero's
    May 28, 2012 10:23 am
    Heroism chooses them!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    Hey Dave
    May 28, 2012 10:36 am
    Ever get a chance to meet SPC Christopher Gathercole?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    Just curious...
    May 28, 2012 12:30 pm
    In honor of Memorial day did the left take a day off in their war against religious faith as demonstrated in their efforts to remove crosses and stars of David from the graves of falled soldiers? After all, you can't have the "endorsement" of government in allowing symbols of religious faith on public land...and who cares if that land is a national graveyard for our fallen service men and women?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    mnpat: Obviously your private little portiion of the right did not take the day off from spreading falsehoods about your political opponents
    May 28, 2012 5:38 pm
    Do you ever bother to research anything you hear on a right wing talk show? Every wonder if there is any truth to a viral right wing email? Is it enough that it "sounds true", or confirms your prejudices? You've been taken in- apparently completely.

    http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/religion/a/i_am_honored_to_do_this.htm

    See? The ACLU has not filed a suit to remove religious symbols from military headstones. In fact, the ACLU defends the right of fallen servicemen and women to have whatever symbol of faith they choose for a headstone. Wiccan pentacles? Christian crosses? Muslim crescents? Jewish Stars of David? No symbol at all? The ACLU will defend all of those choices.

    Furthermore, the other right wing lie that circulated in the same series of emails, "The Obama Administration has forbidden military chaplains from mentioning the name of Jesus in prayer", is similarly debunked at the site above.

    Thoughtful people would give your political philosophies more respect if they stood on their own two logical legs and didn't need to be constantly propped up with statements entirely contrary to the truth.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    error in address.........
    May 28, 2012 6:54 pm
    previous post should have referenced "rational", not mnpat. Apologies to mnpat for the mistake.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    Apology accepted
    May 29, 2012 1:02 pm
    I was wondering though
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    Chuck Gould
    May 28, 2012 8:10 pm
    Firstly, I didn't write that the attack against religious symbology in cemetaries was by the ACLU, that was your addition. What the ACLU did attack was the WW1 memorial cross in the Mojave Desert.

    Most of your post assumes I was referring to some email circulating, however I've never seen that email, I don't receive circulated emails from any group or people, actually...but way to go both making false assumtpions, false accusations and hence false claims.

    Thoughtful people would give your posts more respect if they weren't based in assumption, bias and falsehoods. Your posts are barely half a step up from the troll WL. I'm sure you're capable of stepping up your game.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Well then, rational, let's step up the game and have you post
    May 28, 2012 10:08 pm
    some verification of your absurd claim.

    Or, does your saying so automatically make it so?

    Must be all sorts of news stories about "the left" trying to remove all the religious symbols from military graves. Uh huh.

    You will ride the backs of dead servicemen in order to get some b*****chy little remark about "liberals" off your chest. How disgusting can you get?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Well Chuck
    May 29, 2012 4:36 am
    Sounds like you got called out and don't like it. More of your Liberal side showing through!

    You know what they say about payback?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 32coupe wrote...
    Thanks Dave...
    May 28, 2012 2:52 pm
    For recognizing a hero - not just for what Sgt. Petry did but for what he continues to do. BTW, you are right, that a Medal of Honor is nothing like winning a Nobel Peace Prize which has become a politically correct popularity contest. With the likes of Jimmy Carter, Yassar Arafat and now Obama as recipients, it is obvious it has little or nothing to do with 'peace' nor does it acknowledge accomplishment. The Medal of Honor stands alone.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    Anyone? Noonan?
    May 29, 2012 8:37 am
    Superdave's story is leaving out one important fact about the engagement that resulted in Sgt Petry's Medal of Honor. SPC Christopher Gathercole died alongside Sgt Petry that day. Now Dave, next year try to remember there is a difference between Memorial day and Veterans day.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DesertRez wrote...
    Check out
    May 29, 2012 10:43 am
    The wounded warrior organization for your next charity. They are awesome!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Don of the dead wrote...
    I heard Luke hates the Military
    May 29, 2012 10:55 am
    Well Luke let me tell you, when Isee someone in unifrom I say Thank you for your service every time any day!. You don't have a clue what a hero is and never will. Maybe sometimes you should just keep your mouth shut!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Yah - I heard Luke's blather this AM, too
    May 29, 2012 11:19 am
    He seems to think that not being IN COMBAT is just another job, and doesn't warrant his 'respect'. I wonder if he feels the same way about fire fighters during the 98% of their time NOT fighting fires ?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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