William Kyle Carpenter, an American hero, joined the Marines at 21, was sent to Afghanistan in 2010. During a fierce firefight, a grenade threatened his comrade’s life.
Without hesitation, he jumped on the grenade, saving his friend but suffering severe injuries. He took the explosion, sustaining facial and skull damage, body wounds, a collapsed lung, and a lost part of his jaw.
He underwent 40 surgeries over two years, defying the odds to survive. Recognized for his valor, he received the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama and the Purple Heart.
Today, Carpenter is a retired military veteran pursuing a degree at the University of South Carolina. His selfless act of heroism defined him as an extraordinary individual who made the ultimate sacrifice to save a fellow Marine.