Ty Michael Carter was born in Spokane, Washington in January 1980 and moved to California’s Bay Area in 1981. In 1991, his family moved back to Spokane, where he graduated from North Central High School in 1998 where he excelled in biology and art.

In efforts to avoid college studies, Carter enlisted in the Marine Corps Oct. 13 1998, and attended the Marine Corps Combat Engineer School. He later served in Okinawa, Japan as an intelligence clerk. Carter showed promise in weapons’ marksmanship and was sent to Primary Marksmanship Instructor School in 1999. He served two short training deployments; one to San Clemente Island, California, and the other to Egypt, for Operation Bright Star. Carter was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, Oct. 12, 2002.

Still fascinated by biology Carter enrolled in college and took up studies at Los Medanos Community College in California. Soon after, he welcomed his first daughter’s birth and spent the next five years traveling the United States working multiple jobs at a time; everything from being a certified nurses assistant to ascending sunken boats as a technical diver. Working in the civilian world he missed the camaraderie and sense of purpose that the military had. Carter then realized he was destined for further service.

Carter enlisted in the U.S. Army January 3, 2008, to attend the Cavalry Scout Basic Training Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In April 2008, he was sent to Fort Carson, Colorado, to join 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. In May of 2009, Carter deployed for 12 months to Nuristan Province,Afghanistan. In October 2010, Carter was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, and joined Alpha Troop, 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. In May 2012, he deployed to Kandahar City, Afghanistan.

Carter was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Obama on August 26 th , 2013 and later left active duty in October 2014. Since then he has worked tirelessly to de-stigmatize Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), a condition from which he has suffered. Currently he travels the country as a motivational and educational speaker while being a full-time student working towards his Associates Degree in Firearms Science and Technology. He currently resides in Texas with his family and spends his free time doing various hobbies like home brewing and reloading.

Medal of Honor

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty”

U.S. President Barack Obama places the Medal of Honor around Carter’s neck during an August 26, 2013 White House ceremony. The following day, Carter was inducted into the Pentagon Hall of Heroes.

Medal of Honor Citation

Specialist Ty M. Carter distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Scout with Bravo Troop, 3d Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during combat operations against an armed enemy in Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan on October 3, 2009. On that morning, Specialist Carter and his comrades awakened to an attack of an estimated 300 enemy fighters occupying the high ground on all four sides of Combat Outpost Keating, employing concentrated fire from recoilless rifles, rocket propelled grenades, anti-aircraft machine guns, mortars and small arms fire. Specialist Carter reinforced a forward battle position, ran twice through a 100 meter gauntlet of enemy fire to resupply ammunition and voluntarily remained there to defend the isolated position.

Armed with only an M4 carbine rifle, Specialist Carter placed accurate, deadly fire on the enemy, beating back the assault force and preventing the position from being overrun, over the course of several hours. With complete disregard for his own safety and in spite of his own wounds, he ran through a hail of enemy rocket propelled grenade and machine gun fire to rescue a critically wounded comrade who had been pinned down in an exposed position. Specialist Carter rendered life extending first aid and carried the Soldier to cover. On his own initiative, Specialist Carter again maneuvered through enemy fire to check on a fallen Soldier and recovered the squad’s radio, which allowed them to coordinate their evacuation with fellow Soldiers. With teammates providing covering fire, Specialist Carter assisted in moving the wounded Soldier 100 meters through withering enemy fire to the aid station and before returning to the fight.

Specialist Carter’s heroic actions and tactical skill were critical to the defense of Combat Outpost Keating, preventing the enemy from capturing the position and saving the lives of his fellow Soldiers. Specialist Ty M. Carter’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Bravo Troop, 3d Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division and the United States Army.