SSgt, U.S. Army — War on Terror
Ty Michael Carter was born on January 25, 1980, in Spokane, Washington. He first served in the United States Marine Corps from 1998 to 2002. After time in civilian life, he answered the call again in 2008 — this time enlisting in the United States Army as a cavalry scout, a role that puts soldiers at the tip of the spear on reconnaissance and security missions.
As a specialist with Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Carter deployed to eastern Afghanistan. His unit manned Combat Outpost Keating, a remote firebase deep in a valley in Nuristan Province, where the high ground around the outpost favored anyone attacking it.
On the morning of October 3, 2009, an estimated 300 enemy fighters occupied that high ground on all four sides and unleashed concentrated fire from recoilless rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, anti-aircraft machine guns, mortars, and small arms. Carter reinforced a forward battle position and then ran twice through a hundred-meter gauntlet of enemy fire to resupply ammunition, voluntarily staying at the isolated position. Armed with only his M4 carbine, he poured accurate, deadly fire into the assault force for hours, preventing the position from being overrun. Wounded himself, Carter then ran through a hail of rocket and machine-gun fire to reach a critically wounded comrade pinned down in an exposed position. He rendered first aid and carried the soldier to cover, then maneuvered through enemy fire again to check on a fallen soldier and recover the squad’s radio so evacuations could be coordinated. The thirteen-hour battle killed eight Americans and wounded more than two dozen; Carter’s courage and tactical skill were instrumental in keeping the outpost from falling.
Carter and Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha were both awarded the Medal of Honor for Kamdesh — the first time since the Vietnam War that two living service members received the medal for the same battle. President Barack Obama presented Carter’s medal on August 26, 2013. Carter left active duty in September 2014 and has since become a national advocate for destigmatizing posttraumatic stress disorder, speaking openly about his own struggle so other veterans will seek help.
Sources: Wikipedia · Congressional Medal of Honor Society