OCTOBER 5, 2017 1 THE OCTOBER 5, 2017 VOL. 74, NO. 39 ® UTY ONOR OUNTRY OINTER IEW D , H , C PSERVING THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY AND THE COMMUNITY V OF WEST POINT ® Dockery receives Nininger Award Capt. Nicholas “Nick” Dockery, U.S. Military Academy Class of 2011, received 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo., to Kunar Province, Afghanistan. As the West Point Association of Graduates’ 2017 Alexander Nininger Award for a member of Task Force Lethal Warrior, Dockery trained and worked with Valor at Arms Sept. 28 at Washington Hall. The Nininger Award is named in Afghan National Security Forces in the Dewegal Valley and Chowkay District. In recognition of the heroic actions of 2nd Lt. Alexander R. Nininger, USMA Class September 2012, Dockery’s unit was reassigned to the Tagab District in Kapisa of 1941, who was posthumously awarded the fi rst Medal of Honor in World Province to work under Task Force War Eagle alongside the French military. In War II for his heroic actions near Abucay, Bataan on Jan. 12, 1942. The award October, Dockery was wounded in a direct fi re engagement from hand grenades is given to an exemplar of heroic action in battle. In 2012, Dockery deployed and rocket propelled grenades. Dockery stayed in country and fi nished the as an infantry rifl e platoon leader in support of Operation Enduring Freedom deployment as a platoon leader. See Page 3 for the Nininger Award story. with 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Light), PHOTO BY MICHELLE EBERHART/PV 2 OCTOBER 5, 2017 NEWS & FEATURES POINTER VIEW West Point honors National Hispanic Heritage Month Story and photo by Kathy Eastwood helicopters that delivered the unit to the site, the Staff Writer Rangers came under heavy fire,” Garcia said. “Three Taliban fighters were in the courtyard, West Point recognized National Hispanic which had a chicken coop within it. The Taliban Heritage Month Sept. 27 at the West Point Club fired on Petry and two other Soldiers. Petry was with a luncheon featuring a demonstration of wounded by one round that went through both salsa dancing. his legs. NHHM runs through Oct. 15 to recognize “Petry and the men with him took cover the important contributions by Hispanic and in the chicken coop. A Taliban fighter threw Latino Americans to the United States, as well a grenade at their position landing 10 meters as celebrate their heritage and culture. from them, it detonated and the blast knocked Class of 2018 Cadet Vincent Hale and the Soldiers to the ground. Class of 2019 Cadet Carla Figueroa-Matos, “Another grenade was thrown landing a two members from the Cadet Dancing Club, few feet from the Soldiers. Petry picked up the represented their culture with a spirited salsa grenade and attempted to throw it. The grenade dance. exploded, completely severing his hand and Maj. Gen. Marion Garcia, U.S. Military spraying his body with shrapnel. Academy 1987 graduate, was the guest speaker. “Even though wounded, Petry re-enlisted Garcia holds a bachelor degree in science using his prosthetic right hand to take the oath,” from the U.S. Military Academy, a Master of Garcia added. Strategic Studies from the United States Army In another example, Garcia told of a War College, a Master of Science in Veterinary Hispanic Soldier who went beyond the call Epidemiology and Public Health from the Royal of duty. Veterinary College at the University of London. “From the humblest beginnings, then Pfc. She received her Doctorate of Veterinary Joseph Rodriquez, a native of San Bernardino, Medicine from the College of Veterinary California, enlisted in the Army as a combat Medicine at Colorado State University. infantryman in the early 1920’s,” Garcia said. In her civilian career, Garcia has been a “While Rodriquez was reminiscing about production veterinarian working for major food his father in an interview before he died in producing companies in the U.S. and in support 2005, retired Col. Rodriquez said, ‘Dad is from of US efforts abroad. She is currently the chief the old country, Mexico; you know, that macho veterinary officer for the American Humane machismo stuff. He had it. He raised me up Association in Washington, D.C. saying son, be a man. You be a man and don’t be Garcia spoke about Hispanic heritage and afraid to die if it takes it. Of course, dad wasn’t Brigade Respect Chair Class of 2018 Cadet Carolyn Kehn presents guest memorable and heroic Hispanic Medal of Honor in the front lines when he said it,’” Garcia said. speaker Maj. Gen. Marion Garcia, U.S. Military Academy Class of 1987, a token recipients. On May 21, 1951, Rodriquez was assigned of the Corps’ appreciation for accepting the invitation to speak at the annual “According to the Congressional Medal to Company F, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th National Hispanic Heritage Month luncheon Sept. 27. Garcia holds a bachelor’s of Honor Society, 59 persons of Hispanic Infantry Division and was assigned the mission heritage have been awarded the Medal of of occupying some high ground near the Korean degree in science from West Point, Master of Strategic Studies from the Army Honor, America’s highest military decoration. village of Munye-ri. War College, Master of Science in Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Of those 59 recipients, 44 were Soldiers, 13 Garcia spoke about the situation that from the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London and a Doctorate Marines and two sailors. And I’d like to say, ‘Go Rodriguez faced that led to his heroic actions. of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University. In her civilian career, Army,’ Garcia explained. “I would like to take Rodriguez distinguished himself in Korea Garcia is the chief veterinary officer for the American Humane Association in a moment to highlight some of these national as an assistant squad leader of the 2nd Platoon Washington, D.C. treasures.” when they were participating in an attack against an automatic weapon with two grenades and Honor by President Harry S. Truman, he did One fairly recent Medal of Honor recipient the enemy occupying well-fortified positions on continued his ferocious assault to the top of the not fully appreciate the magnitude of being Garcia mentioned is now retired Master Sgt. rugged terrain. peak, wiping out two more foxholes. awarded the Medal of Honor, in fact, he didn’t Leroy Petry, a career U.S. Army Soldier. The squad’s advance was halted Then, reaching the right flank, he tossed know one medal from another. But on further On May 26, 2008, then Staff Sgt. Petry and approximately 60 yards from a barrage of grenades into the remaining emplacement reflection, he said receiving the MOH made him his unit were on a mission in Paktia Province, automatic weapons and small-arms fire from destroying the gun and annihilating its crew. a better person. And that he realized the great Afghanistan. five emplacements directly to the front, right “After recovering from his injuries, responsibility including being invited to speak At the time, Petry was assigned to D and left flanks, and grenades that the enemy Rodriquez insisted on rejoining his troops in to, what he called the “kids” of the country who Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment rolled down the hill toward the advancing troop. Korea through the end of that year,” Garcia he would tell, “you got to start with yourself, and was on an unusual daylight raid to capture Rodriquez leaped to his feet, dashed 60 explained. “At the time of his retirement, you got to love yourself, you have to believe in a high-value target from the Taliban, Garcia yards up the fire-swept slope, and, after lobbing Rodriquez attained the rank of colonel. By yourself. You don’t realize how lucky we are, explained. grenades into the first foxhole with deadly his own admission later, Rodriquez stated so appreciate it. Be proud of your heritage, you “Almost immediately after getting out of the accuracy, ran around the left flank, dispatched that during the presentation of the Medal of are an American, you are America.” 40 Mulberry Street, Middletown, NY 10940 POINTER VIEW ® To subscribe to the Pointer View or The Army civilian enterprise newspaper, the Pointer View, is an authorized publication for members The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not if you have delivery problems, call 845-346-3213. of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Pointer View are not necessarily the official views of, or constitute endorsement of the products or services advertised by the U.S. Army or the Times Herald- Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, Jr. Michelle Eberhart endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of the Army or the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Record. 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