Brave Soldier Jumped On A Grenade To Save His Fellow Marine Earning Himself The Medal Of Honor

Nov 14, 2019 by apost team

We are all incredibly grateful for the hard work and dedication that our armed forces put forward to protect our freedoms and fight overseas in incredibly dangerous conditions. We also hear amazing stories of bravery that show us the massive lengths these soldiers go to in order to simply do their job.

One brave marine showed us the incredible depth of dedication these soldiers have when he jumped on a live grenade in order to save the life of a fellow soldier.

It was for that act of bravery that William Kyle Carpenter earned the Purple Heart for his Bravery and was given the incredibly prestigious Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama. You may have heard of him or not, but it is certain that he is a true American hero.

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Kyle was just a young man, 21 years of age when he was sent to Afghanistan after earning the prestigious rank of Lance Corporal as a U.S. Marine. A firefight erupted where Kyle was stationed and a grenade was thrown and landed directly next to where Kyle and a fellow soldier were in the midst of the fight.

Kyle said it was a split-second decision to jump into action and use his own body to physically jump on the grenade in order to save his fellow soldier and friend’s life. He suffered massive injuries and was technically dead, but he fought to survive. His body was full of shrapnel and the bones in his face were all blown up.

"I was bleeding out on top of a dusty roof in Afghanistan. As I laid there, struggling for air, I thought about my family, said a prayer, and let the world and life fade away," Kyle said of the day in a social media post. 

Two years and forty surgeries later he continued fighting to survive at the time President Barack Obama awarded him with the Medal of Honor. You can watch the video of Kyle being awarded this honor here.

In a post that Kyle shared on social media, what that day was like. 7 years ago today Kyle is extremely appreciative that he survived the incident and is thankful for all of the support he has received over the years.  

"I am so thankful and appreciative for every second I have been given. From the moment I woke up in the hospital to today, I am equally as thankful for the people that have been there ever since. To my family, my friends, my doctors, my flight medics and my Marines thank you for always loving and supporting me," he said. 

How much does it say about Kyle’s nature that he didn’t think twice before jumping on a live grenade to save a friend? Pass this incredible story along to anyone you know who has served for our country or who would appreciate reading Kyle’s honorable story.