President Barack Obama will award the nation's highest military honor to a former Army sergeant who served in Afghanistan.
Ryan M. Pitts, a former active duty army Staff sergeant, is being recognized for his role in the July 13, 2008 Battle of Wanat. Nine paratroopers died and 27 wounded in one of deadliest battles of the war.
Pitts lives in Nashua, New Hampshire, where he works in business development for the computer software industry.
He will be the ninth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. He and his family will join Obama at the White House for a ceremony July 21.
By Anita Kumar
McClatchy Washington Bureau