WASHINGTON - An Army Ranger who lost his right hand after throwing a live grenade away from fellow soldiers will be the second living Medal of Honor recipient from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Army.

On July 12, President Barack Obama will award Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry with the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry, for his courageous actions during combat operations against an armed enemy in Paktia, Afghanistan, on May 26, 2008.

"It's very humbling to know that the guys thought that much of me and my actions that day, to nominate me for that," Petry was quoted in an Army news release.

The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military honor. On the summer day three years ago, Petry and his Soldiers participated in a rare daylight raid to capture a high-value target, the Army said.  At the time Petry was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Petry was to stay with platoon headquarters in a building already deemed safe, but he noted that one of the platoons needed help clearing a building and he made his way there, according to the Army's account.  Once part of the building had been cleared, Petry and Pfc. Lucas Robinson moved to the outer courtyard, which had not been cleared by U.S. Soldiers. The pair, both Rangers, encountered three enemy fighters.  Petry was wounded by a bullet that went through both of his legs. Robinson was hit in his side plate by another bullet.  While wounded and under enemy fire, Petry led Robinson to cover in a nearby chicken coop and called for backup.

As team leader Sgt. Daniel Higgins began to inch his way to his wounded comrades, Petry threw a thermobaric grenade toward the enemy fighters, which resulted in a brief lull in the fighting. Higgins reached the chicken coop just as an insurgent-thrown grenade landed near the three Rangers, wounding Higgins and Robinson.  

Another enemy-tossed grenade landed just a few feet from Higgins and Robinson.

Petry - despite his wounds and with complete disregard for his personal safety -  "consciously and deliberately risked his life to move to and secure the live enemy grenade and consciously throw the grenade away from his fellow Rangers," according to the release, citing battlefield reports. As Petry released the grenade it detonated. He lost his right hand but continued fighting after managing to tie a tourniquet on his arm.

Petry, a Santa Fe, N.M. native and father of four, is the ninth Servicemember named a recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan and Iraq; all but Petry and Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta were awarded the honor posthumously.