Ty Carter

Ty Michael Carter was born in Spokane, Washington in 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. Carter initially served in the United States Marine Corps from 1998 to 2002, showing promise in weapons marksmanship and serving in Okinawa, Japan, as an intelligence clerk.

In an effort to avoid college studies, Carter enlisted in the Marine Corps 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 on Oct. 12, 2002.

Following his time in the Marine Corps, Carter enrolled in college at Los Medanos Community College in California, having maintained a fascination with biology. After an unexpected life event, he spent the next five years traveling the United States, working multiple jobs at a time, everything from being a certified nurse assistant to ascending sunken boats as a technical diver. Missing the camaraderie and sense of purpose of the military, Carter enlisted in the United States Army in 2008 as a cavalry scout.

Following his enlistment in the Army, Carter attended 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 2009, Carter was deployed to Afghanistan with Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Carter was later assigned as a Stryker gunner with the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

While serving in Afghanistan, Carter's heroic actions and tactical skill were critical to the defense of Combat Outpost Keating during the Battle of Kamdesh in 2009. He provided accurate fire under intense pressure, driving back the enemy. For his conspicuous gallantry, Carter was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in 2013. Beyond the Medal of Honor, Carter's courage earned him numerous awards and decorations, including the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Combat Action Badge.

After leaving active duty in October 2014, Carter has worked tirelessly to destigmatize posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition from which he suffers and prefers to refer to as "PTS." 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.