Kyle Carpenter facts for kids
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) |
William Kyle Carpenter (born October 17, 1989) is a brave former U.S. Marine. He received the Medal of Honor, which is the highest military award in the United States. He earned this honor for his amazing courage in Marjah, Afghanistan, in 2010. Kyle Carpenter is currently the youngest living person to have received the Medal of Honor.
Contents
Early Life and Joining the Marines
Kyle Carpenter was born in Jackson, Mississippi, on October 17, 1989. He grew up in Flowood with his parents, James and Robin. He finished high school at W.W. King Academy in Batesburg, South Carolina. When he was 19, in February 2009, he joined the Marine Corps. He completed his basic training in July 2009 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina.
Military Service and Heroic Actions
After basic training, Kyle Carpenter continued his training at the Camp Geiger School of Infantry in North Carolina. In July 2010, as a Private First Class, he was sent to Afghanistan. He was part of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines. His job was to operate a Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) in Helmand Province, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
On November 21, 2010, Kyle Carpenter 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.
Kyle Carpenter did not hesitate. He bravely moved toward the grenade to protect his fellow Marine from the explosion. His body took the full force of the blast. This act severely wounded him but saved his friend's life.
Kyle Carpenter suffered serious injuries. His jaw and right arm were shattered, and he lost his right eye and most of his teeth. He has had many surgeries since then 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 in a special ceremony. President Barack Obama presented him with the award at the White House. He was the eighth living person to receive this medal for actions during the war in Afghanistan.
Life After the Military
After his medical retirement in 2013, Kyle Carpenter decided to go to college. He enrolled at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. In 2017, he earned a degree in international studies. He also joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity during his time there.
In 2019, Kyle Carpenter wrote a book with Don Yaeger. The book is called You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For. It tells his story and the events that led to him receiving the Medal of Honor.
In 2023, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center honored him. They named a new high-performance computer system "Carpenter" after him.
In January 2025, the Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, announced another great honor. A new Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, DDG-147, will be named USS Kyle Carpenter. At just 35 years old at the time, Kyle Carpenter is one of the youngest Americans to have a U.S. warship named in their honor while still alive.
Awards and Honors
Kyle Carpenter has received many awards for his service and bravery.
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| 1st Row | Medal of Honor | Purple Heart | ||||||||||
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| 2nd Row | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal | Combat Action Ribbon | Navy Unit Commendation | |||||||||
| 3rd Row | Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal | National Defense Service Medal | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 campaign star | |||||||||
| 4th Row | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 1 service star | NATO Service Medal for service with ISAF | |||||||||
| Badge | Sharpshooter marksmanship badge for rifle | |||||||||||
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1 Service stripe |
Helping Others
Kyle Carpenter has also used his story to help others. He appeared in a video called "Still in the Fight." This video helped raise money for the Fisher House Foundation. This foundation provides free or low-cost housing for veterans and their families. It helps them when they are getting treatment at military hospitals.
See also
- List of post-Vietnam Medal of Honor recipients
