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President Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Brother Kyle Carpenter on June 19, 2014, in a special ceremony held at the White House. Brother Carpenter is a retired Marine Corporal who in 2010 threw himself onto a grenade to protect a fellow marine. After barely surviving, Brother Carpenter spent two and half years in recovery and rehab. The attack resulted in the loss of his right eye, as well as several other life-threatening injuries. Brother Carpenter’s heroic action saved the life of Lance Cpl. Nicholas Eufrazio, whom Brother Carpenter calls his best friend.
Today, Brother Carpenter is a student at the University of South Carolina, where he was initiated into Kappa Sigma on October 27, 2013. Brother Carpenter also serves as an advocate for wounded servicemen and women, as well as a motivational speaker.
“With that singular act of courage, Kyle, you not only saved your brother in arms, you displayed heroism in a blink of an eye that will inspire for generations — valor worthy of our nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor,” said Obama.
Brother Carpenter’s awards include the Purple Heart Medal, the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one bronze star, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal International Security Assistance Force, and now the Medal of Honor.
(Feature photo by: Lance Cpl. Eric Keenan)