President Barack Obama awards U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ty M. Carter the Medal of Honor on Monday, August 26. Carter received the medal for his courageous actions as a cavalry scout during combat operations in the Kamdesh District of Afghanistan's Nuristan Province on October 3, 2009. He is the fifth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Staff Sgt. Ty Carter awarded Medal of Honor —
President Barack Obama awards U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ty M. Carter the Medal of Honor on Monday, August 26. Carter received the medal for his courageous actions as a cavalry scout during combat operations in the Kamdesh District of Afghanistan's Nuristan Province on October 3, 2009. He is the fifth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Spc. Carter, now a staff sergeant, is seen with an Afghan interpreter in West Kandahar City. They were on a mission at a traffic control point, set up to prevent the easy flow of insurgent weapons, personnel and vehicles.
Staff Sgt. Ty Carter awarded Medal of Honor —
Spc. Carter, now a staff sergeant, is seen with an Afghan interpreter in West Kandahar City. They were on a mission at a traffic control point, set up to prevent the easy flow of insurgent weapons, personnel and vehicles.
courtesy Carter Family
Carter plays with his daughter Sehara Carter at a park at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state in early July 2013.
Staff Sgt. Ty Carter awarded Medal of Honor —
Carter plays with his daughter Sehara Carter at a park at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state in early July 2013.
courtesy Carter Family
Carter and his wife Shannon Derby share his last moments at Joint Base Lewis-McChord before he boarded a bus for his second deployment to Afghanistan.
Staff Sgt. Ty Carter awarded Medal of Honor —
Carter and his wife Shannon Derby share his last moments at Joint Base Lewis-McChord before he boarded a bus for his second deployment to Afghanistan.
courtesy Carter Family
Carter with Spc. John Adams on their first patrol in Afghanistan. They are observing the Village of Kamdesh from a ridgeline between Observation Post Fritsche and the village.
Staff Sgt. Ty Carter awarded Medal of Honor —
Carter with Spc. John Adams on their first patrol in Afghanistan. They are observing the Village of Kamdesh from a ridgeline between Observation Post Fritsche and the village.
Carter poses with his comrades from Blue Platoon, also known as "The Bastards," at Observation Post Fritsche in Afghanistan.
Staff Sgt. Ty Carter awarded Medal of Honor —
Carter poses with his comrades from Blue Platoon, also known as "The Bastards," at Observation Post Fritsche in Afghanistan.
Carter on patrol from Combat Outpost Keating, where he was a member of the Blue Platoon, nicknamed "The Bastards."
Staff Sgt. Ty Carter awarded Medal of Honor —
Carter on patrol from Combat Outpost Keating, where he was a member of the Blue Platoon, nicknamed "The Bastards."
Carter on top of an Afghanistan Support Group (ASG) hut, providing eyes on an enemy attack and the approach/extraction route.
Staff Sgt. Ty Carter awarded Medal of Honor —
Carter on top of an Afghanistan Support Group (ASG) hut, providing eyes on an enemy attack and the approach/extraction route.
courtesy Jonathan Hill
Carter had joined the Marines out of high school, but he'd been busted down to a lower rank for fighting. He'd then quit and spent five years as a civilian working aimlessly at a series of odd jobs. He hated that, felt like one in a herd of cattle. He wanted to fight for his fellow soldiers, not earn a paycheck without a sense of honor or direction. He reenlisted in the military in January 2008, opting this time for the Army.
Staff Sgt. Ty Carter awarded Medal of Honor —
Carter had joined the Marines out of high school, but he'd been busted down to a lower rank for fighting. He'd then quit and spent five years as a civilian working aimlessly at a series of odd jobs. He hated that, felt like one in a herd of cattle. He wanted to fight for his fellow soldiers, not earn a paycheck without a sense of honor or direction. He reenlisted in the military in January 2008, opting this time for the Army.
A few weeks before the deadly attack on COP Keating, then-Spc. Carter received a new laptop, a gift from his sister Amber.
Staff Sgt. Ty Carter awarded Medal of Honor —
A few weeks before the deadly attack on COP Keating, then-Spc. Carter received a new laptop, a gift from his sister Amber.