Cpl. Kyle Carpenter Receives A Medal Of Honor For Jumping On A Grenade For His Men!!!!

As always, it is a privilege to be able to thank and truly honor those who receive this honor while they are still among us. Lance Cpl. William "Kyle" Carpenter's story is not just about his brave action on the battle field, which are truly selfless and stunning. It's about harrowing recovery. It's incredible he's and I'm glad he is!



President Barack Obama bestowed on Mr Carpenter, the Nation's highest honor for pouncing an enemy grenade to save a fellow Marine who was standing watch with him on the rooftop in the Marjah district of Helmand Province, a Taliban stronghold, on the morning of Nov. 21, 2010







Carpenter was serving as an automatic riflemen with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Regimental Combat Team-1, 1st Marine Division(Forward), I Marine Expeditionary Force(Forward), when an insurgent tossed a grenade near him and his battle buddy, Lance Cpl. Nicolas Eufrazio.

The blast seat of the grenade was found under Carpenter's torso, indicating that he had smothered it intentionally...

"With that singular  act of courage Kyle, you not only saved your brother in arm, you displayed heroism in the blink of an eye that will inspire for generations valor worthy of our nation's highest military decoration,"  President Obama said.




Stars and Stripe reports he flat-lined several times on the table while medics tried to save him. Carpenter spent five weeks in coma and more than two and half years in the hospital undergoing nearly 40 surgeries---including brain surgery.
Doctors had to remove shrapnel from his head and repair a collapsed lung, fractured fingers, and a right arm that was broken in more than 30 places. He received a new prosthetic eye, a new jaw, new teeth and multiple skin grafts.

The doctors at Walter Reed in Bethesda, MD, "Put me back together well" Carpenter has said




After the ceremony Carpenter, who the President described as "still the same humble guy from Gilbert" showed his humility over what has happened....

"When the President put the medal around my neck, I felt the weight of a nation" he said.

Carpenter still has no memory of the moment the blast happened---he says, he doesn't think the recollection will ever return. But his fellow Marines who were there remembered what Kyle did and said right after the explosion....."Kyle kept asking if Nick was Ok" Obama told the audience.

While Carpenter saved Eufrazio's life, the man he rescued also has overcome much since that fateful day. The blast left Eufrazio with serious wounds. He was not able to make the Thursday ceremony. During the tribute, Obama, recognized Eufrazio's sacrifice, as well as the Marines who died the same attack....




Since coming back to South Carolina, Carpenter who is now 24 years old, has become a student at the University of South Carolina, where he is majoring in Psychology. His goal is to help others overcome adversity with his life experiences. Already, he's been sharing his story as a motivational speaker.

Thank you Hero! May God bless you and your family and may He grant you full recovery in Jesus name...Amen!

Credit ~ Hot Air & WLTX19