Medal of Honor recipient faced 'blizzard of bullets'
Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama recognized a soldier's struggles on and off the battlefield when he presented the Medal of Honor on Monday.
Army Staff Sgt. Ty Carter received the top combat valor medal for demonstrating "the urge to serve others at whatever cost," Obama said, when his combat station in Afghanistan came under attack.
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Read more: After giving the military a second try, soldier to receive top honor
The October 2009 assault on Combat Outpost Keating by some 300 Taliban fighters left eight Americans dead, many wounded and "almost everyone was left with deep invisible wounds to their hearts and to their minds," Carter said after the White House ceremony.
"Only those closest to me can see the scars that come from seeing good men take their last breath," he said.
A second soldier, Army Staff Sgt. Clint Romesha, in February was presented with the Medal of Honor for his role in that battle. Two living soldiers have not been presented the medal for the same battle in nearly 50 years.
Photos: Staff Sgt. Ty Carter awarded Medal of Honor
Now, Carter is an advocate for other veterans suffering from the invisible wounds of war, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
Obama recounted Carter's acts of bravery, then said it is "absolutely critical for us to work with brave young men like Ty to put an end to any stigma that keeps more folks from seeking help."
The president noted the "blizzard of bullets and steel into which Ty ran, not once or twice, or even a few times, but perhaps 10 times, and in doing so he displayed the essence of true heroism."
Carter planned to show his family around the Washington monuments, Obama said. But "if you want to know what makes our country truly great, if you want to know what a true American hero looks like," he told them at the ceremony, "you don't have to look too far. You just have to look at your dad because today he's the sight we've come to see."
- CNN Chief Washington Correspondent Jake Tapper contributed to this report
Thank you for your service and heroism, Sgt. Ty Carter. Now let's watch the right wing knuckle draggers call this an Obama photo op!
@ Jeff we all appreciate his service, and yes it is a photo op, god forbid if he wasn't in front of the cameras for more than a day !!!
With each generation, they come forward. Those brave young men and women who raise their hand in solemn ceremonies and swear to protect and defend this great nation of ours. And they fight, and they bleed, and many die in the effort. For those that live on, we, as a country, must do right by them and not only honor their service and their sacrifices, but also provide them with the benefits and help that they surely earned on the battlefield. Does "your" congressman or senator support the VA to the fullest? If not, it's time to make a change.
Glad he did. For that, I reckon I'm very proud of the President & thank you Staff Sgt. Carter for your valor and honorable service!! Frank
SSG's Romesha, and Carter for your selfless service to your country. Too bad you didn't have a real President to make the presentation.
Jeff Brown, we cringe when Obama the American Military hater gives such an award to our Hero's. As American Hero's die and fight for our rights and freedoms around this globe, you cowardly leftist terrorists honor the LGBT community with stories of them being on the same playing field as REAL AMERICAN HERO's, giving the front page stories calling them heros. You terrorists on the left are the downfall of America and should be absolutely ashamed of the mess you cowards have created.
I wish they had had a video clip of the presentation. How proud we are of you. Get past the regrets Jeff, we want you healthy.
Good post Californaia Gary, and I want to add my heartfelt thanks to this young man's service to his country.
It takes a special person to lay his life on the line for others, even for those like PEPPY.
This one is better than that guy who could have been Obama's son.
@California Gary
I second your comment.
My nephew has returned from his second tour in Afganistan, and brought home everyone under his command in one piece. Give them and their families the support they deserve, without accounting gimmicks. As the Right is fond of saying, freedom isn't free, but neither is honoring and supporting them, and neither is anything else we need to do to keep this the greatest nation on earth. Pay the bill if you want to honor them.
John Jingle must be a troll. How much more off subject can you get?
Just more proof that Obama hates the military!
OK, that is what I would expect form some Obama haters – let me now go read the comments and see if it really happened!
Only 6 comments in and one of the crazies go at it. LOL
Because Obamacare, which would see money go to funding socialist healthcare rather than VA Benefits and Active Duty programs, is so much better than the 'right wing knuckle draggers'? The Obama administration is one of the most anti-military that I have seen. I'm once active duty and I don't know a single trooper that respects or has affection for this president. Not a single one.
Thank you for your service!! God Bless you! and God Bless America!!!
"@ Jeff we all appreciate his service, and yes it is a photo op, god forbid if he wasn't in front of the cameras for more than a day !!!"
Your trips to the ER for roadburn on your knuckles are causing health care costs to rise for everyone.
John Jingle it is quite obvious that you are the extremist destroying this nation.
We do NOT want our healthy Soldiers, Navymen, Marines, AirForce to go there, and return: so sick they can't function or bring to us horrible diseases/conditions that will make our lives horrendous or dead. IT IS NONE OF OUR BUSINESS WHAT HAPPENS IN SYRIA. LEAVE SYRIA TO THE SYRIANS! We have lost two wars already: Iraq and Afghanistan (after losing Vietnam and Korea) we DON'T need to lose another war! Syria has nothing to offer, no oil, gold, nothing! We need everyone in the United States to understand that WE WILL LOSE OUR SUPERPOWER STATUS IF WE KEEP LOSING WARS! We need all of us to recuperate our economy, and enjoy some peace withIN our country. Our next generation knows nothing but war, that we have been at for the last 12 years, enough is enough. AS LONG AS THE TERRORISTS KEEP SUCKING US INTO WARS, THEY WON 9/11, WE HAVE TO RESIST, AND NOT PLAY INTO THEIR HANDS! WHAT WILL REALLY HURT THE TERRORISTS IS FOR US TO HAVE PEACE AND PROSPERITY WITHIN OUR USA! Assad said that Russia is still supplying his military with weapons. IF, and that is a big IF, we side with the opposition, and get involved, we would be siding with AlQeda, and the war would be between the USA and Russia in Syria, do we really want that? A war between us and Russia in Syria?
Well at least Obama got the name right this time round.
Meanwhile there's no mention of the murderers of an Australian athlete in Oklahoma or WW II veteran in WA.
What's the matter Mr. President. Too many sons already?
We're still waiting on the Fort Hood terrorism declaration Mr. President.
Keep spouting that nonsense john jingle. People like you are the gift that keeps on giving as sane people see the drivel posted and turn away from you.
Thank you for your Service, and the sacrifices of you and your family. I can only hope the Congress proposed pay cut for the Military does not stand.
Contractors already get paid enough. Our people in the Armed Forces do not.
@ Lynda Minnesota
I'm back from two weeks vacation to find not much has changed.
The GOP is still busy creating a narrative around Christie, while dumping more dirt on Romney's political grave.
We stil have the usual suspects under their many aliases creating opportunities to take potshots at the POTUS.
Congress ain't worth two nickles, and Sniffit is still slamming folks, head first, on the mat....
It's good to be back!!