Kyle Carpenter facts for kids
William Kyle Carpenter is a brave former United States Marine. He received the highest military honor in the U.S., the Medal of Honor. He earned this award for his incredible courage in Marjah, Afghanistan, in 2010. Kyle Carpenter is currently the youngest living person to have received the Medal of Honor.
Quick facts for kids
Kyle Carpenter
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Official photo of Corporal Carpenter in June 2014
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| Birth name | William Kyle Carpenter |
| Born | October 17, 1989 Jackson, Mississippi |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 2009–2013 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan (WIA) |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart Navy Achievement Medal |
| Alma mater | University of South Carolina (BA) |
Contents
Early Life and Joining the Marines
Kyle Carpenter was born in Jackson, Mississippi, on October 17, 1989. He grew up in Flowood, Mississippi. He finished high school at W.W. King Academy in Batesburg, South Carolina.
When he was 19, Kyle joined the Marine Corps in February 2009. He completed his basic training in July 2009. This training took place at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina.
Military Service and Heroic Actions
After his initial training, Kyle Carpenter was sent to Afghanistan in July 2010. He was a Private First Class. He served with Fox Company in Helmand Province, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. His job was a Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) gunner.
On November 21, 2010, Kyle and another Marine, Nick Eufrazio, were guarding a rooftop post. They were defending the village of Marjah from an attack by the Taliban. During the attack, an enemy hand grenade landed inside their sandbagged position.
Without thinking about his own safety, Kyle moved towards the grenade. He tried to shield his fellow Marine from the explosion. When the grenade went off, Kyle's body took the full force of the blast. This act severely wounded him but saved his friend's life.
Kyle suffered serious injuries. His jaw and right arm were shattered, and he lost his right eye and most of his teeth. He underwent many surgeries to recover. In July 2013, he was medically retired from the Marines as a Corporal.
On June 19, 2014, Kyle Carpenter received the Medal of Honor. This special ceremony took place at the White House. He was the eighth living person to receive this award for actions in Afghanistan.
Life After the Military
After leaving the military in 2013, Kyle Carpenter went to college. He studied at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. In 2017, he earned a degree in international studies.
In 2019, Kyle co-wrote a book with Don Yaeger. The book is called You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For. It tells the story of his life and the events that led to him receiving the Medal of Honor.
In 2023, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center honored Kyle. They named a new high-performance computer system "Carpenter" after him.
In January 2025, the Secretary of the Navy announced another great honor. A new Arleigh Burke-class destroyer ship, DDG-147, would be named USS Kyle Carpenter. At 35 years old, Kyle is one of the youngest living Americans to have a warship named after him.
Awards and Recognition
Kyle Carpenter has received several important awards for his service.
- Medal of Honor
- Purple Heart
- Navy Achievement Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Navy Unit Commendation
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
- NATO Service Medal
He also earned the Sharpshooter marksmanship badge for rifle.
Helping Others
Kyle Carpenter has also helped raise money for good causes. He appeared in a video called "Still in the Fight." This video helped collect funds for the Fisher House Foundation. This foundation provides free or low-cost housing for veterans and their families. They stay there while receiving medical treatment at military hospitals.
See also
- List of post-Vietnam Medal of Honor recipients
