LEXINGTON, Va. March 10, 2026 — Gen. George S. Patton, VMI Class of 1907, is credited with saying, “The supreme measure of a man, is what he would risk his life for.” By Patton’s gauge, retired U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. William “Kyle” Carpenter, who humbly stands at 5 feet, 5 inches, is a giant among men.

Carpenter, the youngest living recipient of the Medal of Honor (MOH), participated in a moderated interview at Virginia Military Institute March 9 in Cameron Hall before the entire Corps of Cadets, faculty and staff, and members of the community. His appearance was part of the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics' (CLE) Courageous Leadership Speaker series and H.B. Johnson, Class of 1926, Distinguished Lecture series. Col. David Gray, executive director of the CLE, served as moderator. The CLE’s leadership theme this academic year is “American Values,” and explores honor, integrity, service, and character as the nation prepares to commemorate its 250^th anniversary. 

The MOH is the U.S. armed forces’ highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, guardians, and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. President Barack Obama presented the MOH to Carpenter in 2014 for the heroic act of throwing himself on a grenade to save his best friend and fellow Marine, Nick Eufrazio.

In 2010, the two were manning a rooftop security post in Marjah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, during a chaotic battle. A grenade was thrown on the roof by enemy forces, and instinctively, Carpenter covered the grenade with his body to protect Eufrazio. Carpenter’s Kevlar body armor took the brunt of the explosion, which blew a hole through the roof. Marines and medics immediately came to his aid, and were able to medevac him to a hospital within 40 minutes. He was resuscitated multiple times, his heart stopped twice, and he remained unconscious for five weeks.

Incredibly, Carpenter stirred back into consciousness with optimism. “I woke up thinking that I would never wake up again. I could never not be thankful or hopeful, because no matter how banged up I was, I experienced the alternative. It wasn’t a deep sleep, it was nothing. Clearly, I didn’t fully commit,” he quipped to the delight of his audience. Indeed, not only did Carpenter not commit to death, but he has fully embraced life, and accepted his path and purpose of sharing his message of hope to others.

The grenade blast left Carpenter with deep scars all over his body and took out his right eye. He stayed in the hospital three years and endured 50 surgeries. The pain and adversity most people would use as an excuse to give up on life, Carpenter sees as tools toward growth. He told his audience, “Without adversity and sometimes extreme adversity, you can never reach your ongoing full potential. You can never be perfect, but adversity is the path to becoming the best version of yourself. Growth and comfort cannot coexist. Through those most difficult times, I learned the greatest and most powerful, optimistic lessons.” 

To the cadets, who daily live a Spartan life and don’t always appreciate the significance of their discomfort he said, “Embrace the adversity. Understand that the most difficult lessons, the most difficult past, the hardships, struggles, and those roads less taken, will teach you more about yourself and the world, and in turn, allow you to help and lead those around you, much more than you ever would have had you taken the easy or the already paved road. You can have the right people around you. You can have people that push you. You can have professors that care, that try to teach you day in and day out, but ultimately, it is up to you to accept what you’re being taught and apply it today and every day for the rest of your life.”

Of the medal itself, which he graciously allowed to be circulated among the cadets, the soft-spoken Carpenter shared he has a love-hate relationship with it.

“I’m honored and deeply humbled to be a recipient, to be recognized by our great nation, but it’s difficult to wear. The weight of it is immeasurable. It is a medal and a recognition for us all. It’s not an individual award. It seems like it, but it never has been and it never will be. It represents all Americans. It represents those that never made it home.”  

Following a standing ovation, Carpenter lingered to sign copies of his book, “You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For.” Hundreds stood in line to purchase the manuscript and to meet the author.

Upcoming events at the CLE may be found here.

Marianne Hause
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE