Kyle Jerome White is a former United States Army soldier and recipient of the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. He was born on October 27, 1984, in Seattle, Washington.
Kyle White enlisted in the Army in 2006 and attended basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. After completing his training, he became an Army paratrooper and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based in Vicenza, Italy.
On November 9, 2007, during his deployment to Aranas, Afghanistan, White’s unit was ambushed by a large Taliban force. Despite being outnumbered and under heavy enemy fire, White repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire in order to aid his wounded comrades and evacuate them to safety.
During the engagement, White was knocked unconscious by a rocket-propelled grenade blast, but he regained consciousness and continued to fight alongside his fellow soldiers. He also provided critical information and called in air support to help repel the enemy.
White’s courageous actions during the battle saved the lives of several soldiers and prevented the enemy from overrunning his position. His selfless bravery and unwavering dedication to his comrades were recognized with the Medal of Honor.
On May 13, 2014, President Barack Obama presented Kyle White with the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony. He became the seventh living recipient to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan or Iraq. His citation reads: “Sergeant White’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service.”
After leaving the military, Kyle White has been involved in various veteran advocacy efforts and has shared his experiences to inspire others. His story serves as a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women who serve in the armed forces.
Medal of Honor Citation
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, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade, during combat operations against an armed enemy in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan on 9 November 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, similarly 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 soldier’s 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’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, Company C, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade and the United States Army.