 Citation...
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, 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 on 21
November, 2010.
Lance Corporal Carpenter was a member of
a platoon-sized coalition force comprised of two reinforced
Marine rifle squads, partnered with an Afghan National Army
squad. The platoon had established Patrol Base Dakota two days
earlier in a small village in the Marja 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 towards 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. |
