President Barack Obama awarded Cpl. William "Kyle" Carpenter, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry
on June 19, 2014. Corporal Carpenter received the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as an Automatic Rifleman with Company F, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division (Forward), I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), in Helmand Province, Afghanistan
on November 21, 2010. Cpl. Carpenter
is the eighth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. He and his family joined the President at the White House to commemorate his example of selfless service.
Video courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps / Edited by USA Patriotism!
Text of President Barack Obama's Remarks and Associated
References
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. Please be seated.
On behalf of Michelle and myself, welcome to the White House.
The man you see before you today, Corporal William Kyle Carpenter,
should not be alive today. Hand grenades are one of the most awful
weapons of war. They only weigh about a pound, but they're packed with
TNT. If one lands nearby, you have mere seconds to seek cover. When it
detonates, its fragments shoot out in every direction. And even at a
distance, that spray of shrapnel can inflict devastating injuries on the
human body. Up close, it's almost certain death.
But we are here
because this man, this United States Marine, faced down that terrible
explosive power, that unforgiving force, with his own body -- willingly
and deliberately -- to protect a fellow Marine. When that grenade
exploded, Kyle Carpenter's body took the brunt of the blast. His
injuries were called “catastrophic.” It seemed as if he was going to
die. While being treated, he went into cardiac arrest, and three times,
he flatlined. Three times, doctors brought him back.
Along with
his parents, who call Kyle's survival “our miracle,” we thank God they
did. Because with that singular act of courage, Kyle, you not only saved
your brother in arms, you displayed a heroism in the blink of an eye
that will inspire for generations valor worthy of our nation's highest
military decoration, the Medal of Honor.
Now, Kyle and I have
actually met before. During his long recovery at Walter Reed, he and
some of our other wounded warriors came to the White House to celebrate
the World Series champion, the St. Louis Cardinals. Some of you might be
aware, I am a White Sox fan. (Laughter.) Kyle likes the Braves. So it
was a tough day for both of us. (Laughter.)
But after the
ceremony, Michelle and I had the chance to meet Kyle. And at the time,
he was still undergoing surgeries. But he was up and he was walking, and
he was working his way toward being independent again, towards the man
you see here today. And, Kyle, the main message we want to send is,
welcome back. We are so proud to have you here.
We just spent
some time not just with Kyle, but also with his wonderful family. And
anybody who has had a chance to get to know this young man knows you're
not going to get a better example of what you want in an American or a
Marine. Despite all the attention, he's still the same humble guy from
Gilbert, South Carolina, population of about 600 -- I guess today it's
only population 590-something. (Laughter.)
These days he's also
at the University of South Carolina, “just a normal college student,” he
says, cheering for the Gamecocks. You'll notice that Kyle doesn't hide
his scars; he's proud of them, and the service that they represent. And,
now, he tells me this, and so I'm just quoting him -- he says, “the
girls definitely like them.” (Laughter.) So he's kind of -- he's working
an angle on this thing. (Laughter.) I wasn't sure whether I was supposed
to say that in front of mom. (Laughter.) But there's a quote there.
In addition to our many distinguished guests, I want to welcome
those who made this man the Marine that he is -- Kyle's father, Jim;
Kyle's lovely mom, Robin; and his brothers, Price, and Peyton, one of
whom is going to be joining Kyle at South Carolina, another Gamecock,
and then we've got one who's going to be at The Citadel. We also have
Kyle's Marine brothers who served with him in Afghanistan and through
his recovery. And I also want to welcome the members of the Medal of
Honor Society, whose ranks Kyle joins today.
Kyle and his fellow
Marines served during the surge of forces that I ordered to Afghanistan
early in my presidency. Their mission was to drive the Taliban out of
their strongholds, protect the Afghan people and give them a chance to
reclaim their communities.
Kyle and his platoon were in Helmand
province in Marja, pushing their way across open fields and muddy
canals, bearing their heavy packs even as it could heat up to 115
degrees. In one small village, they turned a dusty compound into their
base. The insurgents nearby gave their answer with sniper fire, and
automatic weapon fire, and rocket-propelled grenades.
That
morning, Kyle said, “our alarm clock was AK-47 fire.” Some of the men
were by their bunks, gearing up for another day. Some were heating up
their MREs. Some were in makeshift ops centers -- a simple mud building
-- planning the day's patrols. And up on the roof, behind a circle of
sandbags, two Marines manned their posts -- Kyle, and Lance Corporal
Nicholas Eufrazio.
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpls. Kyle
Carpenter (left) and Nicholas Eufrazio are pictured in Marjah,
Afghanistan during their 2010 deployment. (Forward), in
Helmand Province, Afghanistan. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Marine
Corps)
The compound started to take fire. Seeking cover, Kyle
and Nick laid down low on their backs behind those sandbags. And then
the grenade landed with a thud, its pin already pulled. It was about to
explode.
And Kyle has no memory of what happened next. What we do
know is that there on that rooftop he wasn't just with a fellow Marine,
he was with his best friend. Kyle and Nick had met in training. In
Afghanistan they patrolled together, day and night, a friendship forged
in fire. Kyle says about Nick, “He was my point man, and I loved him
like a brother.”
When the grenade landed, other Marines in the
compound looked up and saw it happen. Kyle tried to stand. He lunged
forward toward that grenade, and then he disappeared into the blast.
Keep in mind, at the time, Kyle was just 21 years old. But in that
instant, he fulfilled those words of Scripture: “Greater love hath no
man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
They found Kyle lying face down, directly over the blast area. His
helmet was riddled with holes. His gear was melted. Part of his Kevlar
vest was blown away. One of the doctors who treated him later said Kyle
was “literally wounded from the top of his head to his feet.”
And for a moment, Kyle was still conscious. His eyes were open but he
couldn't see. Kyle remember “everything went white.” And yet, even then,
his thoughts were not of himself. One of the Marines who was there
remembers how Kyle kept asking one question, and that was whether Nick
was okay. And then, as Kyle's strength drained away, he sensed the end
was coming. So according to Kyle's memories, “My last thought [was to]
make peace with God. I asked for forgiveness. I was trying to make the
best and most of my last few seconds here on Earth.”
The Medal of Honor is presented for gallantry on the
battlefield. But today, we also recognize Kyle Carpenter for his valor
since in the hard fight for recovery. Eventually, Kyle woke up after
five weeks in a coma. I want you to consider what Kyle has endured just
to stand here today -- more than two and a half years in the hospital.
Grueling rehabilitation. Brain surgery to remove shrapnel from his head.
Nearly 40 surgeries to repair a collapsed lung, fractured fingers, a
shattered right arm broken in more than 30 places, multiple skin grafts.
He has a new prosthetic eye, a new jaw, new teeth -- and one hell of a
smile. (Laughter.)
And
Kyle is the first to give credit elsewhere. His doctors at Bethesda, he
says, “put me back together well.” Today is also a reminder that in past
wars, somebody with injuries as severe as Kyle's probably wouldn't have
survived. So many of our wounded warriors from today's wars are alive
not just because of remarkable advances in technology, but primarily
because of the extraordinary dedication and skill of our military and
our VA medical professionals.
So we need to keep doing
everything we can in our power to give our wounded warriors and those
who treat them the support that they need. And I think this is a
wonderful opportunity to ask doctors Debra Malone and Lauren Greer, and
the rest of Kyle's medical team who are here to please stand. I see
their amazing work every time I visit Bethesda, every time I visited
Walter Reed. It's pretty rare where you've got a job where you just know
you're doing God's work every single day. And they do an incredible job,
so thank you. (Applause.) Thank you for the miracles you work for our
wounded troops and veterans.
Now, Kyle says he'll wear this
medal for all who serve and for those who didn't make it back, and for
those who struggle still. So today, we also honor two members of his
team who made the ultimate sacrifice in that deployment: Kyle's friends
Lance Corporal Timothy M. Jackson of Corbin, Kentucky, and Lance
Corporal Dakota R. Huse of Greenwood, Louisiana.
And our
thoughts are also with the Marine who Kyle saved that day, his brother,
Nick. I had the opportunity to meet Nick as well nearly two years after
the blast on one of my visits to Walter Reed. Nick also suffered
grievous wounds. As a result of traumatic brain injury, he couldn't
speak for more than a year. He also endured multiple surgeries. Today,
his recovery continues. He lives at home with his family in Plymouth,
Massachusetts, where he is watching this ceremony. So, Nick, on behalf
of all of us, I want you to know we honor your sacrifice as well. Your
perseverance is an inspiration. And just as Kyle was there for you, our
nation will be there for you and your family as you grow stronger in the
years ahead.
If any of our wounded warriors seek an example --
let me amend that -- if any American seeks a model of the strength and
resilience that define us as a people, including this newest 9/11
generation, I want you to consider Kyle. After everything he's been
through, he skis, he snowboards, he's jumped from a plane -- with a
parachute, thankfully. (Laughter.) He trudged through a 6-mile Mud Run,
completed the Marine Corps Marathon, says he wants to do a triathlon.
He's a motivational speaker, an advocate for his fellow wounded
warriors. He's thinking about majoring in psychology so he can use his
own experiences to help others. He got stellar grades. And, by the way,
he's only 24 years old, and says, “I am just getting started.”
In other words, Kyle is a shining example of what our nation needs to
encourage -- these veterans who come home and then use their incredible
skills and talents to keep our country strong. And we can all learn from
Kyle's example.
As we prepare for the reading of the citation,
I'd like to close with his own words -- a message, I think, for every
American. “It took a life-changing event to get me to truly appreciate
the precious and amazing life I have been blessed with.
Please
take it from me, enjoy every day to the fullest, don't take life too
seriously, always try to make it count, appreciate the small and simple
things, be kind and help others, let the ones you love always know you
love them, and when things get hard trust there is a bigger plan and
that you will be stronger for it.” Pretty good message.
Corporal
William Kyle Carpenter should not be alive today, but the fact that he
is gives us reason to trust that there is indeed a bigger plan. So God
bless you, Kyle. God bless all who serve and protect the precious and
amazing life that we are blessed with. May God continue to bless and
keep strong the United States of America. Semper Fi. (Applause.)
And
Kyle is the first to give credit elsewhere. His doctors at Bethesda, he
says, “put me back together well.” Today is also a reminder that in past
wars, somebody with injuries as severe as Kyle's probably wouldn't have
survived. So many of our wounded warriors from today's wars are alive
not just because of remarkable advances in technology, but primarily
because of the extraordinary dedication and skill of our military and
our VA medical professionals. 
Please
take it from me, enjoy every day to the fullest, don't take life too
seriously, always try to make it count, appreciate the small and simple
things, be kind and help others, let the ones you love always know you
love them, and when things get hard trust there is a bigger plan and
that you will be stronger for it.” Pretty good message.
