William Kyle Carpenter. You might know his name, you might not, but you can never dispute the fact he is a certified American hero.

At the age of 21, Kyle earned the rank of Lance Corporal in the United States Marines. In 2010, he was sent into war in Afghanistan.

During a firefight, a grenade landed near where Kyle and another Marine were fighting. Without thinking twice, Kyle leapt into action …

It was a split-second decision that spoke volumes over Kyle’s indomitable strength, but would ultimately change his life forever.

Kyle jumped on the grenade, using his body as a shield in order to save his friend.

He offered up his life in sacrifice so that his fellow Marine might be spared.

As a result of the explosion that followed, he suffered severe injuries that were catastrophic in nature.

His body was penetrated by shrapnel, and the bones in his face and skull were shattered.

Furthermore, Kyle lost a portion of his jaw, one of his lungs collapsed, and when he arrived back at Camp Bastion, he was pronounced P.E.A (patient expired on arrival), indicating that he was no longer alive.

Despite this, Kyle miraculously managed to survive.

He technically died but was somehow resuscitated. Kyle was compelled to undergo forty separate surgeries over the next two years. In recognition of his bravery, he was awarded the Purple Heart, and President Barack Obama bestowed him with the prestigious Medal of Honor.

Kyle is now retired from military service and is working towards earning a degree from the University of South Carolina. He is a genuine American hero. For more information about Kyle’s story, please see the video below:

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