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Ex-Sgt Kyle White awarded US Medal of Honor | Ex-Sgt Kyle White awarded US Medal of Honor |
(about 3 hours later) | |
US President Barack Obama has awarded the nation's highest military decoration to ex-Army Sgt Kyle White, the seventh living veteran of Iraq or Afghanistan to be thus decorated. | |
Mr White was given the Medal of Honor for bravery during a November 2007 fire fight with Taliban forces. | |
Mr White suffered head injuries in the attack but tended to other wounded comrades and called for help. | Mr White suffered head injuries in the attack but tended to other wounded comrades and called for help. |
He has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, urging others to seek help. | He has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, urging others to seek help. |
'Symbol of responsibility' | 'Symbol of responsibility' |
"Today we pay tribute to a soldier who embodies the courage of his generation," Mr Obama said of Mr White, calling his actions during the fight "extraordinary". | "Today we pay tribute to a soldier who embodies the courage of his generation," Mr Obama said of Mr White, calling his actions during the fight "extraordinary". |
According to a narrative released by the Army, Mr White's team of 14 troops was ambushed during a meeting with village elders in Nuristan province. | According to a narrative released by the Army, Mr White's team of 14 troops was ambushed during a meeting with village elders in Nuristan province. |
Early in the battle he was knocked unconscious by the blast from a rocket-propelled grenade. As he awoke, an enemy round exploded near him, sending shrapnel into his face. | Early in the battle he was knocked unconscious by the blast from a rocket-propelled grenade. As he awoke, an enemy round exploded near him, sending shrapnel into his face. |
Though wounded and cut off from most of his comrades, Mr White braved enemy fire to rescue and tend to other injured Americans. | Though wounded and cut off from most of his comrades, Mr White braved enemy fire to rescue and tend to other injured Americans. |
Mr White was able to recover a working radio from a fallen comrade and relayed a situation report to friendly forces, who came to their rescue with mortars, artillery and air power. | Mr White was able to recover a working radio from a fallen comrade and relayed a situation report to friendly forces, who came to their rescue with mortars, artillery and air power. |
When a rescue helicopter arrived later, Mr White only evacuated after the other wounded men were tended to, though his condition was deteriorating from the effects of multiple concussions. | When a rescue helicopter arrived later, Mr White only evacuated after the other wounded men were tended to, though his condition was deteriorating from the effects of multiple concussions. |
"At it's core, [the medal] is a symbol of the responsibility all soldiers knowingly face when they depart for distant lands in defence of the nation," Mr White told reporters on Tuesday. | "At it's core, [the medal] is a symbol of the responsibility all soldiers knowingly face when they depart for distant lands in defence of the nation," Mr White told reporters on Tuesday. |
"It is a representation of the responsibility we accept as warriors and members of a team." | "It is a representation of the responsibility we accept as warriors and members of a team." |
Mr White completed his deployment in Afghanistan and left the Army in 2011. | Mr White completed his deployment in Afghanistan and left the Army in 2011. |
He has since received a finance degree from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and currently works as an investment analyst. | He has since received a finance degree from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and currently works as an investment analyst. |