William Kyle Carpenter. There is no denying that he is a revered American hero, whether or not you are familiar with his name.

Kyle enlisted in the US Marine Corps when he was 21 years old and was later given the rank of Lance Corporal. In 2010, he received a command to fight in Afghanistan.

Kyle and another Marine were fighting each other during a firefight when a grenade landed nearby. Kyle took immediate action without pausing.

Kyle made a split-second decision that demonstrated his unflappable toughness and ultimately improved his life. Kyle jumped on the grenade and used his body as a barrier to shield his friend.

By giving his life so that his fellow Marines could be saved, he made the ultimate sacrifice.

The explosion that followed, of course, left him with terrible wounds. His face and skull were fractured, and shrapnel was all over his body.

Kyle also sustained a collapsed lung and lost some of his jaws. He was labeled P.E.A. (patient expired on arrival) when he arrived back at Camp Bastion.

In a sense, Kyle was no more. He was able to survive.

40 different surgeries were required for Kyle over the course of the following two years.

He was awarded the Purple Heart for his bravery in addition to President Barack Obama’s prestigious Medal of Honor.

At the moment, Kyle is a retired soldier attending the University of South Carolina to finish his education.

More details about Kyle’s story can be found in the video down below: