For William Kyle Carpenter, joining the Marines was an opportunity to contribute to something greater than himself. Motivated by a service trip to the Dominican Republic during his junior year of high school, Kyle enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at 19, driven by a desire to make a positive impact.

A Moment of Heroism
On the morning of November 21, 2010, Kyle was awakened by the sound of AK-47 gunfire in Marjah, Afghanistan. The Taliban had launched another assault on the base he shared with his fellow Marines. “I was on a hot, dusty roof surrounded by sandbags during a tense, four-hour quiet spell in the battle,” Kyle recalled.

Suddenly, a grenade landed beside him and another Marine. Kyle instinctively covered the grenade with his body to protect his comrade. His body armor shielded his torso somewhat, but the explosion severely injured him, lacerating his face, shattering his right arm, and collapsing his lung.

The Fight for Survival
Kyle underwent numerous surgeries over nearly three years to save his life and mend his severe injuries. Immediate operations were necessary to remove shrapnel from his brain and repair vital blood vessels. Transferring him between hospitals was perilous, and his heart had to be resuscitated multiple times. He lost his right eye and most of his teeth, and at one point, overwhelmed by pain, he lamented to his mother, “Who will ever love me again?”

Despite these challenges, Kyle refused to surrender. He persevered through his rehabilitation and was awarded the Medal of Honor in June 2014, becoming the youngest living recipient of the United States’ highest military accolade.



“The next thing I knew, and felt, I had warm water running over my body,” said Kyle. “What I thought was warm water, was actually me bleeding out.”

Life Beyond the Battlefield
Kyle retired as a Corporal in July 2013 and pursued a degree in international studies at the University of South Carolina. After retiring, he turned to motivational speaking, sharing insights from his experiences in war and recovery. In 2019, he co-authored a book with Don Yaeger titled “You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting,” recounting his courageous act and subsequent journey.

“I want my story to help others see what’s extraordinary in themselves; to see how small acts of gratitude and kindness can change the world around them, and how we can all be part of something bigger than ourselves,” said Kyle.

Kyle’s story is a lesson that even in the darkest times of our lives, there’s a strength and resiliency in the human spirit that we all possess.