At a White House ceremony Monday, President Barack Obama bestowed the Medal of Honor on Army Staff Sgt. Ty Carter, a Spokane native currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Carter was honored for his actions during the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan. President Obama said Carter repeatedly put his own life on the line to save others. But Obama also talked of Carter's courage in another battle, a battle here at home.“Ty has spoken openly, with honesty and extraordinary eloquence about his struggle with post-traumatic stress—the flashbacks, the nightmares, the anxiety, the heartache that makes it sometimes almost impossible to get through a day,” said the president.
The president applauded Carter’s willingness to get help, as well as his desire to help other soldiers recovering from post-traumatic stress. He added it is important to put an end to any stigma associated with seeking help for PTSD.
"So let me say it as clearly as I can to any of our troops or veterans who are watching and struggling. Look at this man. Look at this soldier. Look at this warrior. He’s as tough as they come, and if he can find the courage and the strength to not only seek help, but to also speak out about it to take care of himself and stay strong, then so can you," Obama said.
The Medal of Honor awarded to Carter is the nation’s highest military decoration. The award was created by an Act of Congress back in 1863.
