The SC Department of Motor Vehicles has honored Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter of Gilbert.

The SCDMV’s Batesburg-Leesville office has been named in his honor, WIS-TV reported.

The General Assembly adopted in April 2018 Senate Bill 654 sponsored by Senator Katrina Shealy, a concurrent resolution honoring Carpenter’s courageous service to the country.

A veteran of Afghanistan, the retired Marine was awarded the Medal of Honor by then-President Barack Obama.

“The man you see before you today, Cpl. William Kyle Carpenter, should not be alive today,” the President said in 2014 to the crowd filled with dignitaries, lawmakers, and Carpenter’s family.

Carpenter received the honor for his bravery during Operation Enduring Freedom in November 2010 and became the honor’s 8th living recipient.

In the specific incident, Carpenter and his Marine unit were on patrol in the Helmland Province of Afghanistan when a grenade landed nearby.

“We are here today because this man faced down this terrible explosive power, that unforgiving force, with his own body, willingly and deliberately to protect a fellow Marine,” said Obama.

Carpenter had very little time to think. The one thought that crossed his mind was his friend, fellow Marine Cpl. Nick Eufrazio.

According to military reports and other Marines who were on the patrol, Carpenter fell forward toward the blast, shielding Eufrazio and others from the explosion.