War is a dark, traumatic experience that scars the lives of everyone it touches. While there is more than enough horror and violence to be seen in war, there are moments of bravery and courage that can show the better side of humanity, too.

For William Kyle Carpenter, being a marine was a chance to be a part of something bigger than himself. Inspired by a mission trip to the Dominican Republic during his junior year of high school, Kyle enrolled in the United States Marine Corps at age 19. He wanted to make a difference in the world, and for one man in particular, Kyle was the difference between life and death.

A Simple Act Of Bravery

On the morning of November 21st, 2010, Kyle rolled out of his sleeping bag to the sound of AK-47s. He was stationed in Marjah, Afghanistan, and he awoke to find that the Taliban had initiated yet another attack on the base where he and his fellow marines resided.

“When my time on post came, I was positioned on a hot, dusty roof inside a small circle of sandbags waiting out an eerie, four-hour lull in the fighting,” said Kyle.

The next thing he knew, a hand grenade landed next to him and a fellow marine. Without a moment’s hesitation, Kyle jumped on the grenade to shield his friend from the blast. He was wearing body armor, which provided his torso with some protection, but the grenade caused extensive damage to the rest of his body. His face was shredded, his right arm was splintered, and his lung collapsed.

“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.”

Saving Kyle’s Life

It took dozens of surgeries over almost three years to save Kyle’s life and repair his extensive injuries. He underwent immediate surgery to remove shrapnel from his brain and to repair his veins and arteries. Airlifting Carpenter from one hospital to another was incredibly dangerous, and his heart had to be restarted more than once. He ended up losing his right eye and most of his teeth, and the extent of his injuries was enough to almost break him mentally.

“Who is ever going to love me again?” he asked his mother when the pain of recovery became too much to bear.

But while most people would have given up, Kyle chose to push through and overcome his trauma. He finished his rehabilitation and ended up receiving the Medal of Honor in June 2014, making him the youngest living recipient of the United States’ highest military honor.

Life After War

He medically retired as a Corporal in July 2013, after which he enrolled at the University of South Carolina in Columbia to earn a degree in international studies. Since he retired from the Marine Corps, Kyle has become an inspirational speaker, sharing the lessons he’s learned from war and recovery. In 2019, he co-authored a book with Don Yaeger titled You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting that detailed his story of bravery and triumph in the events leading up to that fateful day in 2010.

“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.