Kyle J White

Background

White was born in 1987. He enlisted in the Army on February 15, 2006, attending basic training, advanced individual training, and U.S. Army Airborne School consecutively, at Fort Benning, Ga. White's military education includes the Combat Life Saver Course, U.S. Army Airborne School, U.S. Army Air Assault School, the Infantryman Course (One-Station Unit Training), the Primary Leadership Development Course, and the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course.

From 2006 to 2008 White was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, and in early 2007 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom was deployed to Aranas, Afghanistan where he served as a platoon radio telephone operator. White's actions on November 9, 2007 were the basis for his receiving the Medal of Honor.

From 2008 to 2010, White was assigned to the 4th Ranger Training Battalion at Fort Benning, and in May 2011 departed the active-duty Army.

In 2013, White received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he majored in finance. He became an investment analyst with the Royal Bank of Canada and in 2013, joined Bank of America Merrill Lynch as a Fixed Income Bond Trader.

Medal of Honor

During the Battle of Aranas on November 9, 2007, White suffered a mild traumatic brain injury from a Rocket-propelled grenade blast and from the subsequent blast of a 120mm mortar round fired by U.S. forces. He was later diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder, but says he copes with its symptoms by exercising. Through 2014, White's face still had bullet fragments from an AK-47 round that shattered on a rock in front of him.

On May 13, 2014, White received the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony, for administering life saving medical aid to comrades and for radioing situational reports, in which five soldiers and a Marine were killed and all eight surviving Americans were wounded. The following day, White was inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes by Deputy Defense Secretary Robert O. Work.

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to Specialist Kyle J. White, United States Army.

Specialist Kyle J. White 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 radio telephone operator with Company C, 2nd Battalion Airborne, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade during combat operations against an armed enemy in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan on November 9, 2007.

On that day, Specialist White and his comrades were returning to Bella Outpost from a shura with Aranas village elders. As the soldiers traversed a narrow path surrounded by mountainous, rocky terrain, they were ambushed by enemy forces from elevated positions. Pinned against a steep mountain face, Specialist White and his fellow soldiers were completely exposed to enemy fire. Specialist White returned fire and was briefly knocked unconscious when a rocket-propelled grenade impacted near him.

When he regained consciousness, another round impacted near him, embedding small pieces of shrapnel in his face. Shaking off his wounds, Specialist White noticed one of his comrades lying wounded nearby. Without hesitation, Specialist White exposed himself to enemy fire in order to reach the soldier and provide medical aid.

After applying a tourniquet, Specialist White moved to an injured Marine, providing aid and comfort until the Marine succumbed to his wounds. Specialist White then returned to the soldier and discovered that he had been wounded again. Applying his own belt as an additional tourniquet, Specialist White was able to stem the flow of blood and save the soldier's life.

Noticing that his and the other soldiers' radios were inoperative, Specialist White exposed himself to enemy fire yet again in order to secure a radio from a deceased comrade. He then provided information and updates to friendly forces, allowing precision airstrikes to stifle the enemy's attack and ultimately permitting medical evacuation aircraft to rescue him, his fellow soldiers, Marines, and Afghan army soldiers.

Specialist Kyle J. White. 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, Company C, 2nd Battalion Airborne, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, and the United States Army.

Awards and decorations

White has earned the following awards and decorations:

White has earned two Overseas Service Bars and one service stripe.