Kyle Carpenter, an American hero
Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter takes part of the first corporals course for wounded warriors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda, Maryland.
Carpenter will receive the medal from President Barack Obama for conspicuous gallantry 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., June 19, 2014.
He will receive the medal for injuries he sustained on Nov. 21, 2010, while attempting to shield a Marine from an enemy hand grenade. Carpenter's body absorbed the brunt of the blast, severely injuring him, but saving the life of his fellow Marine.
He will be the eighth living recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Kyle Carpenter
Kyle Carpenter with his younger twin brothers, Peyton and Price.
Kyle Carpenter
Kyle Carpenter poses with his family in a childhood photo.
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Kyle Carpenter during a little league baseball game.
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Kyle Carpenter poses for an official W. Wyman King Academy football photo.
Kyle Carpenter
Kyle Carpenter poses for an official W. Wyman King High School graduation photograph.
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Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter snowboards during a family vacation before deploying to Afghanistan.
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Lance Cpl Kyle Carpenter with Marines of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
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Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter with parents, Jim and Robin Carpenter.
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Lance Cpl Kyle Carpenter with a fellow Marine in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
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Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
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Father, Jim Carpenter comforts Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter early in his recovery at then-Bethesda Naval Medical Hospital in December 2010.
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Cpl. Kyle Carpenter during recovery.
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The Carpenter family with Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter early in his recovery at then-Bethesda Naval Medical Hospital in December 2010.
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Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter taking his first steps during his recovery.
Kyle Carpenter
The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James Amos, and then-Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Carlton Kent, presented Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter with the Purple Heart medal.
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Cpl. Kyle Carpenter during recovery in 2011.
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Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter awaiting another surgery. Throughout his recovery, he underwent approximately 40 surgeries in 2.5 years.
Kyle Carpenter
The majority of Carpenter's injuries are to the right side of his body,including the loss of his right eye. Carpenter has several prosthetic eyes, each hand painted, to include a Purple Heart Medal eye shown here.
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Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter relearns how to tie his shoes.
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Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter takes a driving test late in his recovery.
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Cpl. Kyle Carpenter poses with actor Bradley Cooper.
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Cpl. Kyle Carpenter poses for a photo post-injury in 2011.
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Cpl. Kyle Carpenter competes in his first Mud Run.
Kyle Carpenter
Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, a 22 year-old Marine and wounded warrior from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, was honored at the Iron Bowl, a yearly rivalry football game between Auburn University and the University of Alabama.
During his time at the game, he was given access to the VIP suite at the stadium, memorabilia and the university donated its plane to fly him and his mother back to Washington, D.C.
Carpenter, from Columbia, S.C., is a huge fan of Auburn and was given this opportunity by the faculty and staff of the university and the Marines from Recruiting Station Montgomery, Ala.
Kyle Carpenter
Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter takes part of the first corporals course for wounded warriors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda, Maryland.
Kyle Carpenter
The Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. John M. Paxton, Jr. speaks with ret. Cpl. Kyle Carpenter during the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Ball in Washington, D.C., March 22, 2014.
The Society provides financial assistance and education, as well as other programs and services, to members of the United States Navy and Marine Corps.
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U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kyle Carpenter (Ret.) speaks to students, Apr. 9, 2014.
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U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kyle Carpenter (Ret.) poses for a photo in Arlington Va., March 18, 2014.
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U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kyle Carpenter (Ret.) poses for a photo in Arlington Va., March 18, 2014.
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Cpl. Kyle Carpenter completes the 2013 Marine Corps Marathon.
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Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter riding on the back of a Harley-Davidson.
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Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter walking off the field during the Semper Fi All-American Bowl.
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Carpenter seen skydiving
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Kyle Carpenter was interested in the Marine Corps even as a child. He is pictured here wearing a Marines t-shirt with his younger twin brothers, Peyton and Price.
Kyle Carpenter
Cpl. Kyle Carpenter poses for a photo with his mother (Robin), father (Jim), and twin brothers (Peyton and Price).
Washington, DC.
Retired Marine Cpl. William "Kyle" Carpenter receives the Medal of Honor from U.S. President Barack Obama during a Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House, June 19, 2014.
Carpenter received the medal for taking the blast from a grenade to protect fellow Marines and sustained major wounds. Carpenter is the eighth living recipient chosen for the high honor.