President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Honor to Staff Sgt. Ty Michael Carter at the White House.
Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death, Rode the six hundred.
WASHINGTON — Alfred Lloyd Tennyson’s words resonate deeply in the story of Staff Sgt. Ty Carter, the nation’s latest recipient of the Medal of Honor.
President Barack Obama on Monday presented Carter with the highest military honor for his bravery in the Oct 3, 2009 attack on Combat Outpost Keating in Afghanistan. Carter risked his life to save a wounded soldier who was pinned down by enemy fire.
“When soldiers like Ty arrived, they couldn’t believe it,” Obama said at the ceremony in the East Room of the White House. “They said it was like being in a fishbowl — easy targets for enemies in the hills above.”
Combat Outpost Keating, situated in a valley surrounded by mountains in the Hindu Kush range came under heavy fire from more than 300 Taliban insurgents. Five soldiers including Carter found themselves trapped in a Humvee with bullets piercing the armor.
With fire coming in from all sides and the enemy in a strategic location in the hills above the Americans, Carter got out of the Humvee and ran across a volley of bullets, at times carrying ammo for his colleagues. He dodged explosions, shot at insurgents and rescued Specialist Stephan Mace who was wounded and on the ground as bullets flew all around him.
“During the battle I lost hearing in my left ear but I will always hear the voice of Specialist Mace,” said Carter, who carried Mace to a safe position. “I will hear his plea for help for the rest of my life.” Mace later died of his wounds in what came to be known as the Battle of Kamdesh.
The 53 soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division successfully fought off the insurgents, but lost eight of their own, with 25 other soldiers injured.
In an emotional moment, families of those who lost their lives stood up during the ceremony to honor their loved ones.
Carter, who held the rank of specialist at the time of the battle, said he struggles with the memories of that day. He suffered post-traumatic stress disorder afterward and initially refused to acknowledge it. But later Carter got the required medical help and he is now a voice for de-stigmatizing PTSD.
“Take the time to learn about the invisible wounds,” Carter said, speaking about soldiers suffering PTSD. “Know that they are not damaged, they are burdened with living when others did not.”
Carter joins Staff Sgt. Clint Romesha who received the award earlier this year. This is the first time since the Vietnam War that two living soldiers from the same battle received the Medal of Honor.
