On August 1, 2011, Chaplain Michael Trujillo presented an IAFF Local 244 chromed axe to Sergeant Leroy Petry on behalf of Albuquerque Firefighters, Bernalillo County Firefighters and Santa Fe Firefighters to Sergeant Leroy Petry to commemorate his extraordinary heroism with the utmost honor and respect.

Leroy Arthur Petry, Sergeant First Class of the United States Army received the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama on July 12, 2011 in a ceremony at the White House for his courageous actions during a firefight in Afghanistan as a Staff Sergeant in the 2nd Ranger Battalion. He is the second living recipient of the medal, after Salvatore Giunta, for actions in the Vietnam War.

“Instantly realizing the danger, Staff Sergeant Petry, unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his safety, deliberately and selflessly moved forward, picked up the grenade, and in an effort to clear the immediate threat, threw the grenade away from his fellow Rangers. As he was releasing the grenade it detonated, amputating his right hand at the wrist and further injuring him with multiple shrapnel wounds. Although picking up and throwing the live grenade grievously wounded Staff Sergeant Petry, his gallant act undeniably saved his fellow Rangers from being severely wounded or killed. Despite the severity of his wounds, Staff Sergeant Petry continued to maintain the presence of mind to place a tourniquet on his right wrist before communicating the situation by radio in order to coordinate support for himself and his fellow wounded Rangers.”