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DURHAM, N.H. (AP) — Medal of Honor recipient and New Hampshire native Ryan Pitts will deliver the University of New Hampshire commencement address.
Pitts is a former Army staff sergeant who battled enemy fighters during one of the bloodiest battles of the Afghanistan war, despite being badly wounded. He is the ninth living recipient of the award for actions in that war.
Pitts fought off enemy attackers on July 13, 2008, in Wanat. Despite losing blood from wounds in both legs and an arm, he continued to fire at about 200 Taliban fighters and guided air strikes that helped repel the attack. Nine members of his platoon died.
Pitts is a 2013 graduate of the university's business program in Manchester and a member of the Alumni Association advisory board. Commencement is Saturday morning.
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