William Kyle Carpenter. You might know his name, you might not, but you can never dispute the fact he is a certified American hero.

At the age of 21, Kyle earned the rank of Lance Corporal in the United States Marines. In 2010, he was sent into war in Afghanistan.

During a firefight, a grenade landed near where Kyle and another Marine were fighting. Without thinking twice, Kyle leapt into action.

It was a split-second decision that spoke volumes over Kyle’s indomitable strength, but would ultimately change his life forever. Kyle jumped on the grenade, using his body as a shield in order to save his friend.

He offered up his life in sacrifice so that his fellow Marine might be spared.

Naturally, he suffered devastating injuries as a result of the ensuing explosion. His body was riddled with shrapnel and the bones in his skull and face were shattered. On top of that, Kyle lost part of his jaw, one of his lungs collapsed, and he was declared P.E.A (patient expired on arrival) when he got back to Camp Bastion.

Technically, Kyle was dead. Somehow, he survived.

Over the next two years, Kyle was forced to undergo forty different surgeries. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his bravery, as well as becoming a recipient of the prestigious Medal of Honor, bestowed upon him by President Barack Obama.

Today, Kyle is retired from military service and is working towards getting a degree from the University of South Carolina.

A true American hero. Watch the video below for more on Kyle’s story: