Welcome to American Valor, a new weekly series where I share true, documented stories of Americans in uniform who showed extraordinary courage. With the Marine Corps birthday coming up on November 10, it felt right to start with a Marine.
Patrol Base Dakota
In November 2010, Lance Corporal William "Kyle" Carpenter was an automatic rifleman with Company F, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, deployed to the Marjah District of Helmand Province, Afghanistan. His platoon, two reinforced Marine squads partnered with an Afghan National Army squad, had set up Patrol Base Dakota in a small village two days earlier to disrupt enemy activity and help secure the local population (Congressional Medal of Honor Society).
November 21, 2010
Carpenter and a fellow Marine were manning a sandbagged rooftop security position on the edge of the patrol base when the enemy launched a daylight attack with hand grenades. One landed inside their position. According to his Medal of Honor citation, "without hesitation, and with complete disregard for his own safety," Carpenter moved toward the grenade to shield his fellow Marine. When it detonated, his body absorbed the brunt of the blast. He was severely wounded, but the other Marine survived (CMOHS citation).
The road back
Carpenter spent about two and a half years recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and was medically retired as a corporal on July 30, 2013 (Marines.mil). On June 19, 2014, he received the Medal of Honor at the White House, becoming the eighth living recipient for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan (Marines.mil press release; Marine Corps History Division). He was born in Flowood, Mississippi, enlisted in 2009, and went through boot camp at Parris Island.
Why this story stays with me
Every Marine learns early that you look out for the Marine next to you. Carpenter's actions on that rooftop are about as pure an example of that as there is. He chose his brother's life over his own safety in a split second. Stories like his are why I'm proud to have worn the uniform, and why I believe so strongly in taking care of each other after we come home.
About the author
Ryan Gunning is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran in Jacksonville, Florida, and the founder of The Calm Seas Project, which takes veterans and first responders out on the water. American Valor posts every Sunday morning.
Sources: Congressional Medal of Honor Society · Marines.mil · Marines.mil press release · Marine Corps History Division