U.S. President Barack Obama awards Sergeant First Class Leroy Arthur Petry, U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House in Washington July 12, 2011. Petry received the medal for his courageous actions during combat operations against an armed enemy in Paktya, Afghanistan in May, 2008.

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES – Tags: POLITICS MILITARY IMAGES OF THE DAY)