William Kyle Carpenter (born October 17, 1989) is a medically retired United States Marine Corps corporal who was awarded 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, "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
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,
Carpenter's jaw and right arm were shattered, he lost his right eye, most of his teeth and has undergone dozens of surgeries.Jeff Wilkinson, "Senate gives thanks to wounded war hero" The Post and Courier, March 10, 2011.Michael D. Fay, Still in the Fight: Scars, March 17, 2011; accessed June 26, 2014.Andrew de Grandpre, "Did Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter cover a grenade to shield his buddy?", Marine Corps Times, January 16, 2012 issue; accessed June 26, 2014."'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, "Marine hit by grenade deserves MoH, buddies say" , Marine Corps Times, January 29, 2012; accessed June 26, 2014."Carpenter now full-time student at University of South Carolina" , 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. He is the eighth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan.
Medal of Honor citation
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. He is a 2013 initiate of the Chi-Omega chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity at University of South Carolina.
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.
In 2023, the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center unveiled a new high-performance computing cluster named Carpenter, in honor of Kyle Carpenter.
In January 2025, outgoing secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced that the 98th , DDG-148, would be named USS Kyle Carpenter in his honor. 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
1st RowMedal of HonorPurple Heart2nd RowNavy and Marine Corps Achievement MedalCombat Action RibbonNavy Unit Commendation3rd RowMarine Corps Good Conduct MedalNational Defense Service MedalAfghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 campaign star4th RowGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalNavy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 1 service starNATO Service Medal for service with ISAFBadgeSharpshooter marksmanship badge for rifle
1 Service stripe
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.
See also List of post-Vietnam Medal of Honor recipients
References
Further reading Medal of Honor: 150 Years of Courage and Sacrifice. Clearwater, FL: Belmont International Incorporated, 2011. Owens, Ron. Medal of Honor: Historical Facts & Figures. Paducah, Ky: Turner, 2004.
External links
Official website President Obama Awards the Medal of Honor to Corporal William "Kyle" Carpenter Kyle Carpenter interview