Kyle Carpenter
{{Short description|United States Marine (born 1989)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Kyle Carpenter
| image = 140618-M-LI307-0155.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Official photo of Corporal Carpenter in June 2014
| birth_name = William Kyle Carpenter
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|10|17}}
| birth_place = Jackson, Mississippi
| death_date =
| death_place =
| placeofburial =
| allegiance = United States
| branch = United States Marine Corps
| serviceyears = 2009–2013
| rank = Corporal
| servicenumber =
| unit = Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines
| commands =
| battles = War in Afghanistan {{WIA}}
| awards = Medal of Honor
Purple Heart
Navy Achievement Medal
| alma_mater = University of South Carolina (BA)
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}
William Kyle Carpenter (born October 17, 1989) is a medically retired United States Marine who received the United States' highest military honor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in Marjah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2010. Carpenter is the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient.
Early life
Carpenter was born in Jackson, Mississippi on October 17, 1989, and raised in Flowood by his parents James and Robin.Brian Livingston, [http://meridianstar.com/local/x459216099/Marine-Ball-to-welcome-Medal-of-Honor-nominee "Marine Ball to welcome Medal of Honor nominee"], The Meridian Star, November 5, 2011; accessed June 26, 2014. He is a graduate of W.W. King Academy in Batesburg, South Carolina. He enlisted in the Marine Corps' delayed entry program at age 19 in February 2009, and completed Recruit Training in July 2009 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina.
Military career
File:KyleCarpenter19m04sVideoFrame.png
Carpenter completed his initial training at the Camp Geiger School of Infantry, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In July 2010, as a Private First Class, he was assigned to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Regimental Combat Team One, 1st Marine Division (Forward), 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where he served as a Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) gunner beginning September 2009.
On November 21, 2010, Carpenter and another Marine, Nick Eufrazio, were manning a rooftop security post during defense of the village of Marjah, Helmand Province from a Taliban attack. According to his Medal of Honor citation,
{{Quote|The enemy initiated a daylight attack with hand grenades, one of which landed inside their sandbagged position. Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own safety, Lance Corporal Carpenter moved toward the grenade in an attempt to shield his fellow Marine from the deadly blast. When the grenade detonated, his body absorbed the brunt of the blast, severely wounding him, but saving the life of his fellow Marine.{{cite book|last=Westermeyer|first=Paul|title=The United States Marine Corps: The Expeditionary Force at War|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yXvKDwAAQBAJ|year=2019|publisher=Casemate|isbn=978-1-61200-694-9|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=yXvKDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA150 150–151]}}}}
Carpenter's jaw and right arm were shattered, and he lost his right eye and most of his teeth; he has undergone dozens of surgeries.{{cite web|url=http://www.wltx.com/story/news/local/2014/06/19/medal-of-honor-kyle-carpenter/10821049/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140904154323/http://www.wltx.com/story/news/local/2014/06/19/medal-of-honor-kyle-carpenter/10821049/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 4, 2014|title=Medal of Honor: The Kyle Carpenter Story|last=TEGNA|access-date=May 23, 2017}}Jeff Wilkinson, [http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20110310/PC1602/303109867 "Senate gives thanks to wounded war hero"] The Post and Courier, March 10, 2011.Michael D. Fay, [http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/still-in-the-fight-scars Still in the Fight: Scars], March 17, 2011; accessed June 26, 2014.Andrew de Grandpre, [http://militarytimes.com/blogs/battle-rattle/2012/01/16/behind-the-cover-did-lance-cpl-kyle-carpenter-cover-a-grenade-to-shield-his-buddy-or-not "Did Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter cover a grenade to shield his buddy?"], Marine Corps Times, January 16, 2012 issue; accessed June 26, 2014.[http://militarytimes.com/blogs/battle-rattle/2012/01/23/behind-the-cover-kyle-covered-that-grenade-marines-weigh-in-on-grenade-blast-survivors-heroism "'Kyle covered that grenade' — Marines weigh in on grenade blast survivor's heroism"], Marine Corps Times, January 23, 2012 issue; accessed June 26, 2014.Dan Lamothe, [http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2012/01/marine-kyle-carpenter-rates-medal-of-honor-buddies-say-grenade-nick-eufrazio-012912w "Marine hit by grenade deserves MoH, buddies say"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310081241/http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2012/01/marine-kyle-carpenter-rates-medal-of-honor-buddies-say-grenade-nick-eufrazio-012912w |date=March 10, 2012 }}, Marine Corps Times, January 29, 2012; accessed June 26, 2014.[http://www.thestate.com/2014/03/05/3306762/carpenter-could-become-first-south.html "Carpenter now full-time student at University of South Carolina"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622051103/http://www.thestate.com/2014/03/05/3306762/carpenter-could-become-first-south.html |date=June 22, 2014 }}, thestate.com, March 5, 2014; accessed June 26, 2014.
In July 2013, he was medically retired as a Corporal.
On June 19, 2014, Carpenter received the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House.{{refn|[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2014/06/19/president-obama-awards-medal-honor-corporal-william-kyle-carpenter]}}
He is the eighth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan.{{r|Lamothe}}
Medal of Honor citation
{{Quote|The president of the United States, in the name of the congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Lance Corporal William "Kyle" Carpenter, United States Marine Corps, For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an Automatic Rifleman with Company F, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division (Forward), 1 Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on 21 November 2010. Lance Corporal Carpenter was a member of a platoon-sized coalition force, {{sic|comprised |hide=y|of}} two reinforced Marine squads partnered with an Afghan National Army squad. The platoon had established Patrol Base Dakota two days earlier in a small village in the Marjah District in order to disrupt enemy activity and provide security for the local Afghan population. Lance Corporal Carpenter and a fellow Marine were manning a rooftop security position on the perimeter of Patrol Base Dakota when the enemy initiated a daylight attack with hand grenades, one of which landed inside their sandbagged position. Without hesitation, and with complete disregard for his own safety, Lance Corporal Carpenter moved toward the grenade in an attempt to shield his fellow Marine from the deadly blast. When the grenade detonated, his body absorbed the brunt of the blast, severely wounding him, but saving the life of his fellow Marine. By his undaunted courage, bold fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of almost certain death, Lance Corporal Carpenter reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.}}
Post-military career
After his July 2013 medical retirement, Carpenter enrolled at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, and received a degree in international studies in 2017.{{cite web |url=https://ijr.com/the-declaration/2017/12/1037925-medal-honor-recipient-kyle-carpenter-graduating-college-everyone-stood/ |title=Medal of Honor Recipient Kyle Carpenter Was Graduating From College — Then Everyone Stood Up |last=Rosas |first=Julio |date=December 20, 2017 |website=Independent Journal Review |publisher=Media Group of America |location=Alexandria, Virginia }}
{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=December 19, 2017 |title=Medal of Honor recipient receives standing ovation at college graduation |url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2017/12/19/kyle-carpenter-medal-of-honor-recipient-receives-standing-ovation-at-college-graduation/ |work=Marine Corps Times |access-date=April 23, 2018 }} He is a 2013 initiate of the Chi-Omega chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity at University of South Carolina.{{cite news |last1=Fouraker |first1=Clark |last2=Luchsinger |first2=Alex |date=June 23, 2014 |title=Medal of Honor: The Kyle Carpenter Story |url=http://www.wltx.com/story/news/local/2014/06/19/medal-of-honor-kyle-carpenter/10821049/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140904154323/http://www.wltx.com/story/news/local/2014/06/19/medal-of-honor-kyle-carpenter/10821049/ |archive-date=2014-09-04 |access-date=September 4, 2014 |work=WLTX 19}}
In 2019, Carpenter co-authored a book with Don Yaeger titled You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For about the events leading up to his becoming a Medal of Honor recipient.{{Cite web |last=Szoldra |first=Paul |date=2019-05-04 |title=Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter is coming out with a book he says 'will truly help people' |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/military-life/kyle-carpenter-book/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Task & Purpose |language=en-US}}
In 2023, the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center unveiled a new high-performance computing cluster named Carpenter, in honor of Kyle Carpenter.https://www.erdc.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Stories/Article/3615371/erdc-unveils-newest-supercomputer-in-recognition-of-medal-of-honor-recipient/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
In January 2025, outgoing Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced that the 97th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, DDG-147, would be named USS Kyle Carpenter in his honor. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250116013848/https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/4030194/secnav-del-toro-names-destroyers-and-frigate-at-the-37th-surface-navy-associati/ navy.mil] At just 35 years old at the time, Carpenter is one of the youngest living Americans to have a warship named for him.
Awards and decorations
| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="3" align="center"|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Medal of Honor ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|ribbon= Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Marine Corps Good Conduct ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Afghanistan Campaign ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=NATO Medal ISAF ribbon bar.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |
| colspan="6"|150px |
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |
| 1st Row
|colspan="3"|Medal of Honor |colspan="3"|Purple Heart |
|---|
| 2nd Row
|colspan="2"|Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal |colspan="2"|Combat Action Ribbon |colspan="2"|Navy Unit Commendation |
| 3rd Row
|colspan="2"|Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal |colspan="2"|National Defense Service Medal |colspan="2"|Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 campaign star |
| 4th Row
|colspan="2"|Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |colspan="2"|Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 1 service star |colspan="2"|NATO Service Medal for service with ISAF |
| Badge
|colspan="12"|Sharpshooter marksmanship badge for rifle |
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |
| 100px |
Fundraising
Carpenter appeared in a video, "Still in the Fight," to raise money for the Fisher House Foundation, which provides free and low-cost housing to veterans and families receiving treatment at military hospitals.{{cite news|last1=Lamothe |first1=Dan|title=Marine hit by grenade rates MoH, buddies say|url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20120129/NEWS/201290307/Marine-hit-by-grenade-rates-MoH-buddies-say|newspaper=Marine Corps Times|date=January 29, 2012|access-date=June 26, 2014}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- Medal of Honor: 150 Years of Courage and Sacrifice. Clearwater, FL: Belmont International Incorporated, 2011. {{OCLC | 753726166}}
- Owens, Ron. Medal of Honor: Historical Facts & Figures. Paducah, Ky: Turner, 2004. {{ISBN|1-56311-995-1}} {{OCLC | 57391165}}
External links
{{Wikiquote}}
- [https://williamkylecarpenter.com/ Official website]
- [https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2014/06/19/president-obama-awards-medal-honor-corporal-william-kyle-carpenter President Obama Awards the Medal of Honor to Corporal William "Kyle" Carpenter]
- [https://jockopodcast.com/2019/12/11/207-live-a-life-worth-fighting-for-medal-of-honor-recipient-kyle-carpenter/ Kyle Carpenter interview]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carpenter, Kyle}}
Category:American people with disabilities
Category:People from Flowood, Mississippi
Category:United States Marine Corps non-commissioned officers
Category:United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients
Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Category:University of South Carolina alumni
Category:War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) recipients of the Medal of Honor