Advocate for his fellow wounded warriors. Hes thinking about majoring in psychology so he can use his own experiences to help others. He got stellar grades. And by the way, hes only 24 years old. And says, im just getting started. In other words, kyle is a shining example of what our nation needs to encourage. Veterans who come home and then use their incredible skills and talents to keep our country strong. And we can all learn from kyles example. As we prepare for the reading of the citation, id like to close with his own words. A message i think for every american. It took a life changing event to get me to truly appreciate the precious and amazing life i have been blessed with. Please take it from me, enjoy every day to the fullest, dont take life too seriously, always try to make it count, appreciate the small and simple things, be kind and help others, let the ones you love always know you love them and when things get hard, trust theres a bigger plan and that you will be stronger for it. Pretty good message. Corporal william Kyle Carpenter should not be alive today but the fact that he is gives us reason and trust that there is indeed a bigger plan. So god bless you, kyle. God bless all who serve and protect the precious and amazing life that we are blessed with. May god continue to bless and keep strong the United States of america. Semper fi. [applause] the president of the United States in the name of the Congress Takes pleasure in presenting the medal of honor to Lance Corporal william Kyle Carpenter, United States marine corps. For conspicuous gallantry at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, while serving as an automatic rifleman with company f, second battalion, ninth marines, regmental combat team one, First Marine Division forward, First Marine Expeditionary force forward, in helmand, pro helmand province, afghanistan, Operation Enduring freedom, on 21 november, 2010. Lance corporal carpenter was a member of a platoonsized Coalition Force comprised two of marine rifle squads, partnered with an Afghan National army scad squad. The platoon had established patrol based dakota two days earlier in a small village in the marnla district in order to disrupt enemy activity and provide security for the local afghan population. Lance corporal carpenter and a fellow marine were manning a rooftop security position on the perimeter of Patrol Base Dakota when the enemy initiated a daylight attack with hand grenades, one of which landed inside their sand bag position. Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own safety, Lance Corporal carpenter moved towards the grenade in an attempt to shield his fellow marine from the deadly blast. When the grenade detonated, his body absorbed the brunt of the blast, severely wounding him but saving the life of his fellow marines. By his undaunted courage, bold fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to dootduthy in the face of almost certain death, Lance Corporal carpenter reflected great credit to himself. [applause] let us pray. Gracious god, may this ceremony serve as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with receiving the greatest gift of freedom. As we depart this hallowed hall and return to our daily lives, we pray that you would ennoble and empower us, that when called upon we would represent the resolute fearlessness of corporal Kyle Carpenter and all those who wear the stars of valor. And live up to our responsibilities, bringing honor to you and to this country. Its in the strength of your name we pray, amen. Amen. That brings us to the conclusion of the ceremony. But not the reception and party. And so i want to thank everybody again for being here, especially kyles wonderful family and his parents. And i understand that the food here at the white house is pretty good. [laughter] so i already told kyles brothers that they should be chowing down. But that goes for everybody else as well. I think the drinks are free. I dont know although its still early in the afternoon. Thank you very much, everybody. Lets give one more round of applause to our latest medal of honor winner, Kyle Carpenter. [applause] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National able satellite corp. 2014] and now another white house medal ofen honor ceremony. President obama hosted the ceremony in may for kyle white, a former active duty Army Sergeant who earned the medal of honor for his actions while serving in afghanistan on november 9 of 2007. This is just under 20 minutes. Almighty god who our words may cradle but never maintain, echo in our ears. Wisdom which calls us to be devoted to one another in brotherly love and honor one another above ourselves. We are blessed to honor an american soldier whose actions bore witness to the death of his love and the breadth of his honor. The medal of honor is bestowed upon Sergeant Kyle white, a story so deeply inspiring our nation that we may renew our devotion to one another, for we know, o god, that it is to dearness that gives everything its value. By honoring sergeant white, we also honor the dear memories of the men who fought that day, those who now rest in eternal peace. Increase our faith, renew our hope, o god, that we may live lives worthy of honor, devotion and courage, that we recognize today. We pray all this in your holy name. Amen. Good afternoon, everybody. Please be seated. Elcome to the white house. It has been said that true courage is a perfect sensibility of the measure of danger and a mental willingness to incur it. For more than 12 years, with our nation at war, the men and women of our armed forces have noun the measure of danger that comes with military service. But year after year, tour after tour, they have displayed a selfless willingness to incur it. By stepping forward, by volunteering, by serving and sacrificing greatly to keep us all safe. Today our troops are coming home. By the end of this year, our war in afghanistan will be over. And well welcome home this generation, the 9 11 generation, that has proven itself to be one of americas greatest. Today we pay tribute to a soldier who embodies the courage of his generation. A young man who was a freshman in high school when the twin towers fell and who just five years later became an elite paratrooper with legendary 173rd airborne. The sky soldiers. Today we present our nations highest military declaration, the medal of honor, to Sergeant Kyle j. White. Kyle is the second sky soldier to be recognized with the medal of honor for service above and beyond the call of duty in afghanistan. Today he joins Staff Sergeant salvatore ajunta and a proud brotherhood of previous honorees, some of whom are with us here today. We have a lot of v. I. P. s here but id like to acknowledge the most important. Kyles parents. Cheryl and curt. And kyles girlfriend, helen. I am told that back home in bonnie lake, washington, when kyle wanted to enlist at first he had set his sights on the marines. But his dad is a veteran of the army special forces. So im told there was a difference of opinion. [laughter] and i suspect a good family discussion. As commander in chief, i cannot take sides in this debate. [laughter] bottom line, is kyle joined the army. In doing so he carries on his familys proud tradition of service which found its expression on a november day over six years ago. Across afghanistan, base commanders were glued to their radios, listening as American Forces fought back an ambush in the rugged mountains. One Battalion Commander remembered that all of afghanistan was listening as a soldier on the ground described what was happening. They knew him by his call sign. Charlie 16 romeo. We know it was kyle who at the time was just 20 years old and only 21 months into his military service. Earlier that afternoon, kyle and the 13 members of his team, along with a squad of afghan soldiers, left an afghan village after meeting with elders. The americans made their way back up a steep hill. Single file, along a narrow path, a cliff rising to their right and a slope of rocky shale dropping on their left. They knew not to stop, they had to keep moving. They were headed into an area known as ambush alley. And thats when a single shot rang out. Then another. Then an entire canyon erupted with bullets coming from what seemed like every direction. It was as if kyle, said, the whole valley lit up. The platoon returned fire, kyle quickly emptied a full magazine,s about you a he went to load a second, an enemy grenade exploded and knocked him uncon schultz. He came to with his face unconscious. He came to with his face pressed against a rock. As he moved to get up, enemy rounds hit a rock just inches from his head, sending shrapnel across his face. Most of the unit had slid down the cliff to valley below, but kyle saw a teammate trying to cheat his own shattered arm using a tree as cover. What came later called the strong what kyle later called the smallest tree on earth. Im sure thats how it felt. Kyle began applying a turn kit, shielding mccain with his own beaued body. Then kyle saw another man down, marine Sergeant Phillip box. In the open, 30 feet behind them, two injured too injured to reach cover. Kyle remembers thinking, its just matter of time before im dead. If thats going to happen, i might as well help someone while i can. With bullets impacting all around him, kyle ran to box and began to pull the injured ma rain to cover. But marine to cover. But worried hed expose box to firing, he retreated. He went out over and over thinking to himself, im not going to make it. He could feel the pressure of the rounds going by him but somehow, miraculously, they never hit him. Not once. One of his teammates said it was as if kyle was moving faffletter than a speeding bullet. Finally finally kyle succeeded nulling his comrade to cover. Tragically, they were on that cliff there on that cliff, sergeant box succumbed to his wounds. But in his final moments, this American Marine surely found some solace in kyle white, the american soldier who until the very end was there by his side. That other injured soldier, cane schilling, was still out there. Hed sustained another injury this time to his knee. Kyle ran out once more to canes side. Kyle ripped off his own belt for a turn quit and got his turn kit and got his hands on turn kit and got his hands on a working radio. Crouching behind that lone tree, kyle began calling in air strikes to take out enemy positions. Kyle stayed with specialist schilling as night fell. Cane was too badly injured to move. Kyle was starting to feel the fog on his own concussion set. In but he knew that he was canes best chance to get out alive so kyle took charge and ordered the afghan sold forms a security perimeter solders to form a security perimeter. He called in a medivac and made sure that ca nmbs e and the other injured were safely onboard and only then did he allow himself to be lifted out. As a helicopter pulled away, kyle looked out the window, watching the darkness as they pulled away from that single tree on the cliff. When youre deployed, he later said, those people become your family. What you really care about is i nt to get this guy tote left and to the right home. Conscious to the left and to the right to the left and to the right home. His family was tested that day. Not a single one of them escaped without injury. And six brave americans gave their lives. Their last full measure of devotion. And we remember them today. Sergeant phillip a. Box, captain matthew c. Ferrera, specialist joseph m. Boncore, Sergeant Jeffrey s. Merz embs Corporal Lester g. Roke and sean k. A. Longman. Some of their families are here today. Id ask them to please stand so we can recognize their extraordinary sacrifice. [applause] the electricsy of these Fallen Heroes endures in the courage and strength of their unit. 14 men forever brothers in arms. Were proud to welcome those who fought so valiantly that day. Specialist cane schilling, the sold that are kyle saved, and members of the second battalion chosen company of the 173rd airborne brigade, would you lease stand. [applause] we honor kyle white for his extraordinary actions on that november day. But his journeyy from that day to this speaks of the story of his generation. He completed the rest of a 15month deployment in afghanistan. He came back home and trained other young paratroopers as they prepared to deploy. When he completed his service, kyle decided to pursue a different dream and with the help of the post9 11 g. I. Bill he went to college and graduated and today works for a bank in charlotte, north carolina. When kyle walks into the office every day, people see a man in a suit headed to work. Thats how it should be. A proud veteran welcomed into his community, contributing his talents and skills to the progress of our nation. But kyle will tell you that the transition to civilian life and dealing with the posttraumatic stress hasnt always been easy. More than six years later, he can still see the images and hear the sounds of that battle. Every day he wakes up thinking about his battle buddies. And if you look closely at that man in the suit on his way to work, youll notice the piece of war that he carries with him, tucked under his shirt sleeve. A stainless steel bracelet around his wrist etched with with the names of i had wrist etched with the names of his comrades fallen comrades. Their sacrifice motivate mess to be the best i can be. Everything in my life is done to make them proud, he says. Kyle, members of chosen company, you did your duty and now its time for america to do ours. After more than a decade of war, we welcome you home with the support and the benefits and opportunities that youve earned. You make us proud. And you make you motivate all a of us to be the best we can be as americans, as a nation to uphold our sacred obligations to your generation and all who have faced that measure of danger and the willingness to incur it. May god bless you and may your courage inspire and sustain us always and may god continue to bless the United States of america. With that id like to have the citation read. The president of the United States of america authorized by act of Congress March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of congress the medal of honor to specialist kyle j. White, United States army. Specialist kyle j. White distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a radio telephone operator with company c, second battalion airborne, 503rd infanttry regiment 173 airborneberry good during combat operations against an armed enemy in afghanistan on november 9, 2007. On that day, specialist white and his comrades were returning to an outpost with village elders as the soldiers traversed a narrow path surrounded by mountainous rocky terrain, they were am burked ambushed by enemy forces from elevated positions. Pinned against a Steep Mountain face, specialist white and his fellow soldiers were completely exposed to enemy fire. Specialist white returned fire and was briefly knocked unconscious when a rocketpropelled grenade impacted near him. When he regained consciousness, another round impacted near him, imbeding small pieces of slap instead in his face. Shaking off his rounds, specialist white noticed one of his comrades lying wounded nearby. Without hesitation, specialist white exposed himself to enemy fire in order to reach the soldier and provide medical aid. After applying a turn kit, specialist white moved to an injured marine, providing aid and comfort until the marine succumbed to his wounds. Specialist white then returned to the soldier and discovered that he had been wounded again. Applying his own belt as an additional tournament, specialist white was able to stem the flow of blood and save the soldiers life. Noticing that his and the other soldiers radios were