U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry, who received the Medal of Honor Tuesday at a White House ceremony. Petry threw a live grenade away from his fellow soldiers, saving lives, losing his right hand in the process. U.S. Army

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry embodies courage and all that is good about America.

Sgt. Petry will receive the Medal of Honor -- the nation's highest military honor -- on Tuesday from President Barack Obama and become only the second living recipient of the Medal of Honor for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In 2008, Petry lost his right hand while throwing a live grenade away from his fellow soldiers, ABCNews.com reported Tuesday. Incredibly, Sgt. Petry managed to throw the grenade away despite being shot in both of his legs.

Petry becomes the ninth service member involved in those conflicts to receive the nation's highest award for valor, armytimes.com reported.

When the award was announced in May, Petry said, It's very humbling to know that the guys thought that much of me and my actions that day, to nominate me for that.

Sgt. Petry, of Sante Fe, N.M., has completed multiple combat tours to Afghanistan and Iraq, totaling 28 months of deployment, ABCNews reported.

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