LEXINGTON, Va. Feb. 25, 2025 — Medal of Honor (MOH) recipient, retired U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. William “Kyle” Carpenter, will appear for a moderated interview at Virginia Military Institute, Monday, March 9 at 10:30 a.m. in Cameron Hall. The event is part of the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics’ (CLE) H.B. Johnson, Class of 1926 Distinguished Lecture Series, and Courageous Leadership Speaker series. His visit supports the CLE’s 2025–26 leadership theme, “American Values,” which explores honor, integrity, service, and character as the nation prepares to commemorate its 250^th anniversary. The event is free and open to the public. The Cameron Hall clear bag policy will be in effect.

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 a fellow Marine in Marjah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2010. He is the youngest living recipient of the MOH.

Carpenter lost his right eye, has had over 40 surgeries, flatlined twice, and learned resilience through small victories. He is author of “You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For.” Copies of the book may be purchased in advance at the VMI Bookstore, and will be available to purchase at the event for $20 with cash or credit card. A book signing will follow the interview.

For more information, contact Lt. Col. Kim Connolly at connollykv@vmi.edu.

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