Leroy Henry Farmer

US Army /

Leroy Henry Farmer

ON 02 JULY 2003, SERGEANT FARMER, ACCOMPANIED BY SERGEANT FIRST CLASS GENEREAU AND STAFF SERGEANT DEEB, FOLLOWED A RESIDENT OF AD’ DUJAYL IRAQ TO A LOCATION REPORTED BY THE RESIDENT TO BE AN UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE SITE. UPON ARRIVAL SERGEANT FARMER OBSERVED SEVERAL HUNDRED UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE ROUNDS AND USED HIS GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM TO OBTAIN AN ACCURATE GRID LOCATION. DURING THE MISSION, HE NOTICED ONE OF THE LARGE ARTILLERY MUNITIONS BEGAN TO EMITING SMOKE. SERGEANT FARMER ORDERED EVERYONE TO DROP TO THE GROUND IMMEDIATELY. WHEN THE ROUND DID NOT DETONATE AT ONCE, HE ORDERED EVERYONE TO RUN AWAY FROM THE POTENTIAL BLAST AREA TO A BURM LOCATED 150 METERS AWAY. WHILE RUNNING TO A PLACE OF COVER, SERGEANT FARMER TURNED TO INSURE THAT EVERYONE WAS RUNNING FOR COVER WHEN HE NOTICED A CHILD WHO HAD NOT RUN AWAY OR TAKEN COVER. SERGEANT FARMER IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND AND RAN BACK WITHIN THREE METERS OF THE SMOKING ORDNANCE THAT WAS ABOUT TO EXPLODE TO RESCUE THE CHILD AND CARRIED HIM TO A SAFE LOCATION. SERGEANT FARMER USED HIS OWN BODY TO SHIELD THE CHILD FROM HARM AS HE PICKED HIM UP AND CARRIED HIM TO SAFETY. SERGEANT FARMER’S ACTIONS CLEARLY WENT BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY BY RISKING HIS LIFE IN ORDER TO SAVE ANOTHER.

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