Former soldier from Charlotte to receive Medal of Honor

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor to former Army Sgt. Kyle J. White, who put his own life at risk in an hours-long effort to save fellow service members during a 2007 ambush in Afghanistan.
 
White, who lives in Charlotte, joined the Army in 2006 and now works as an investment analyst, but it was his courageous actions while in uniform that prompted Obama to recognize White.

He was the radio-telephone operator for his platoon on patrol in Afghanistan.

They were ambushed while on foot. White recounted that night and the gunfire that changed everything.

"The first shots rang out," White said. "I returned fire through my first magazine which is 30 rounds of ammunition."
 
But the gunfire and the rocket-propelled grenade attack were too much.
 
White was knocked unconscious but woke up and was able to help move fellow soldiers to safety.
 
He used his belt to help a Marine who was hit but gunfire and was bleeding badly.

"I told him, 'Hey man, this is going to hurt.' He's like, 'Just do it.' I put my foot on his leg and pulled the belt as hard as I could until the bleeding stopped," White said.
 
Six Americans died during the attack but White was able to radio for help.
 
White waited to be flown out of the battlefield after the wounded were safe.

"You're so focused on what you're doing, you don't think about what you're doing," White said. "You just do it."

White will receive the Medal of Honor May 13 at the White House.

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