WATCH: Former Army Sergeant Kyle J. White Tell The Harrowing Story That Earned Him the Medal of Honor
President Obama will award our nation’s highest honor to former Army Sergeant Kyle J. White this afternoon for conspicuous gallantry while fighting in Afghanistan. He will become only the seventh living recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.
His story is harrowing and inspiring, and worthy reading for anyone who respects and honors the sacrifices made in service and defense of our country. Shockingly, the ten minute video above has less than a thousand views at time of publishing. I’m sure we can do better than that.
Here’s a shorter version of the story from the Associated Press:
An Army account of the attack says White and his team of 14 U.S. soldiers, along with Afghan National Army soldiers, were ambushed Nov. 9, 2007, after attempting to hold a meeting with village elders in the village of Aranas in Nuristan province.
During the exchange of fire, White was knocked unconscious. When he came to, he realized that most of his fellow Americans and all of the Afghans traveling with them had slid 150 feet down a rocky cliff for cover.
Left at the top with White were platoon leader 1st Lt. Matthew C. Ferrara, Spc. Kain Schilling, Marine Sgt. Phillip A. Bocks and the group’s interpreter. White set about trying to assess the condition of his fellow soldiers, running and crawling through gunfire only to find Ferrara already was dead and Bocks badly wounded. Though he tried to stop Bocks’ bleeding, the Marine later died.
Suffering from concussions, White treated Schilling’s injuries and used one of the unit’s radios to call for help.
When a helicopter arrived after nightfall, White only allowed himself to be evacuated after the wounded were assisted.
Schilling survived the attack and has told the Army that he planned to attend White’s Medal of Honor ceremony.
White retired from the Army in 2011. He graduated from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte with a finance degree, and he now works as an investment analyst at a bank in Charlotte.
God bless Kyle for his valor, and to every member of the military.