Medal of Honor recipient was once an at-risk student. Now he inspires them

When retired U.S. Army Master Sgt. Leroy Petry, a recipient of the Medal of Honor, looked out over the dozens of Grizzly Youth Academy graduates Thursday, he saw something of himself in them.

“Like many of them, I was a high school student at risk,” Petry said.

The former Army Ranger was in San Luis Obispo this week for several events, including the graduation of the latest group of Grizzly cadets.

“It’s been pretty eventful,” Petry said.

And he would know. He may be retired from the Army, but Petry spends a considerable amount of his time traveling.

“I’m on the road about 220 days out of the year,” he said.

Prior to visiting San Luis Obispo, Petry said he was in Afghanistan.

It was in Afghanistan, in May 2008, where Petry lost his hand. He was leading a platoon during a daylight raid to capture a high-value target. While taking enemy fire, Petry and two other soldiers were sheltering behind a chicken coop. That was when the grenades started flying. The first one landed about 10 meters away, knocking the soldiers off their feet. The second grenade landed just a few feet from where they lay.

“It was almost instinct — off training,” Petry said in an article from the U.S. Army. “It was probably going to kill all three of us. I had time to visually see the hand grenade. And I figure it’s got about a 4 1/2 -second fuse, depending on how long it has been in the elements and the weather and everything. ... I figure if you have time to see it, you have time to kick it, throw it, just get it out there.”

Petry saved his men, but lost his right hand at the wrist.

In 2011, then-President Barack Obama awarded Petry with the Medal of Honor.

He recalled being in the Oval Office as the president signed the citation.

“I leaned over his shoulder and saw he was left-handed, so I asked him for some pointers,” said Petry, whose right hand was replaced by a prosthesis.

Now, Petry spends his days helping veterans with both education and employment programs.

“I tell people I’m in Phase 2 of the Army, which is taking care of our military people and our veterans,” he said.

Petry said he was proud to be given the chance to speak to the Grizzly graduates.

“I hope it continues to impact many young lives,” he said.

Petry said he told the graduates to look for the positive influences in life and avoid the negative ones; he said they should expect obstacles.

“They will face a lot of challenges along the road of life. It has its curves,” he said. “The only straight road is really a dead end.”

This story was originally published December 16, 2017 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Medal of Honor recipient was once an at-risk student. Now he inspires them."