With his prosthetic hand, U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Leroy Arthur Petry applauds his fellow soldiers during a ceremony in which he was presented with the Medal of Honor by U.S. President Barack Obama 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)