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Last week I had the opportunity of attending the VFW convention in San Antonio, where
I got to talk with both GEN (ret.) Jim Conway and Governor Mitt Romney backstage, and
soak up their powerful speeches to the general audience. In that setting, I was certainly
surrounded by truly great Americans, on the podium and, of course, in the audience—it felt
like I was on THE winning team. And then VFW’s Executive Director Bob Wallace introduced
me to SFC Leroy Petry—kind of like meeting the MVP of the winning team. I was awestruck.
You may recall that on July 12, 2011, 32-year-old SFC Petry became only the second living
recipient since the Vietnam War to receive America’s highest honor for heroic actions in
combat. In May 2008, Petry was assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
in Afghanistan. When an enemy threw a grenade just a few feet from Petry and two others in
his Unit during a daylight raid on a high-value target, SFC Petry’s immediate reaction was
purely selfless. He ran to the live grenade, picked it up, and threw it hard. As the grenade
left his hand, it exploded, completely severing his right hand.
Now three years later, I shook his hand, acutely aware of the amazing capability of today’s
prosthetics, which allow him to shake my hand with the same pressure sensitivities of any
usual handshake. I couldn’t help myself—I told him how very cool his hand is! You can see
all the wiring and titanium (at least I think that’s what it is) inside the transparent, skin-like
covering. Just amazing. But here’s the really amazing part—although I can’t say that I’m
terribly surprised, given his already proven desire to serve. Right before he headed into
another media interview, I asked him about his future plans. “I’m going back to AFG!” he
said, very excited about the prospect. Thinking that this was a quick visit, I asked him if it
was part of Operation Proper Exit. “Oh no, I’m deploying again, I’ll be back with my Unit!”
You know, Time Magazine got it right a couple of weeks ago when they featured veterans
on their cover with this headline: “The New Greatest Generation.” And SFC Petry is one of
many examples why. All you one-percenters serving America are great Americans—we can’t
say “thank you” enough!
—Sharlene |
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