Medal of Honor recipients are some of the bravest and toughest military members that risk their lives for our country. If you take time to read their stories their feats will simply astound you. Medal of Honor recipient Cpl. Kyle Carpenter recently went on the Late Show With David Letterman, where Letterman read a list of his astonishing injuries.
As he went through the list, the amazing odds that this brave Marine overcame becomes obvious.
The injuries included “countless” broken bones, up to 30 fractures in one arm alone. When Letterman was taken aback by that Carpenter quipped that he was an overachiever.
Carpenter also had shrapnel in both legs, a punctured carotid artery, both ear drums ruptured, lost most of his teeth, a collapsed right lung, lost most of his jaw, lost the vision in his right eye, he had brain surgery to remove shrapnel, and a fractured skull. Carpenter flatlined three times, and was even labeled dead on arrival when he was taken to the hospital.
He spent three years in the hospital undergoing 40 surgeries, most of which were facial reconstruction. Everything from his eyes down is plates and reconstructed face. After reading this list of injuries describing someone whose face was shredded by explosions one would expect someone that is pretty difficult to look at, but he looks a normal guy.
Kyle took a moment to commend Walter Reid Hospital for helping him heal, and by the looks of it they did an amazing job.
