CHARLESTON, S.C.− A recipient of the Medal of Honor, Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry, will discuss his experiences and reflect on the meaning of principled leadership in a public forum to be held at The Citadel’s McAlister Field House at 7:00 p.m. on October 22. The following day, Oct. 23, he will join hundreds of cadets who will demonstrate leadership through community service for the schools 3rd annual Leadership Day. Petry is one of only three living recipients of the Medal of Honor that have been awarded since the Vietnam conflict. Petry was decorated for his selfless actions in defense of his comrades in an engagement with Taliban forces in Paktia Province, Afghanistan, on May 26, 2008. His actions under fire, and subsequent work with his fellow wounded warriors, have been profiled in numerous publications. 

“This is a rare evening with such a highly decorated member of our armed forces,” said Bo Moore, Dean of Humanities & Social Sciences. “Sgt. Petry’s visit provides an extraordinary opportunity to learn more about the current generation of American soldiers. He exemplifies the enduring qualities of resiliency and teamwork that have been central to principled and effective leadership across different generations of the American experience.” 

Petry is currently assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga., with duties as a liaison officer for the U.S. Special Operations Command Care Coalition—Northwest Region, providing oversight to wounded warriors, ill and injured service members and their families.

 The discussion on will be moderated by Colonel Joseph Trez, a combat veteran of the Vietnam conflict who now serves as director of The Citadel’s Krause Leadership Center.

The event is sponsored by The Citadel’s School of Humanities & Social Sciences and its Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics. It is made possible by the support of the South Carolina State Guard Foundation and the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation.  For additional information about this program, please contact The Citadel’s School of Humanities & Social Sciences by telephone at (843) 953-747, or via e-mail at cmortti@citadel.edu.