KYLE CARPENTER

I guess you could say I got right with the man upstairs. I wanted to go to heaven.

Be thankful for what you have. Appreciate the small and simple things.

I would take any opportunity to tell service members, 'Thank you.'

There was always the next therapy appointment, next surgery, next college exam, but with time and deep thought, those evolved into life lessons, which then evolved into perspective.

The Taliban are terrible shots. At the end of some long patrols, we'd be walking through the fields and get shot at - and we'd just keep walking.

I was labeled 'P-E-A,' which is patient expired on arrival. I guess that's the politically correct way of saying you didn't make it.

I am a retired United States Marine Corporal and I started out in 2nd Battalion Night Marines on my deployment and I finished my career in the Marine Corps at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as a patient.

I graduated from college December of 2017 and looking ahead and thinking about potentially starting a book, I just kept getting hung up before even starting because I didn't want to write a book that only people that have served in the military or that have been to combat could understand.

My body was torn apart by an enemy hand grenade... upon arriving at Camp Bastion, I was labeled P.E.A. - patient expired on arrival. I flat-lined at Walter Reed.

The Bush family truly cares about our military.

I want my story to help others see what's extraordinary in themselves.

I am proud of my scars because they show I dedicated myself to a bigger purpose.

Freedom is a powerful and beautiful thing.

I remember my buddies yelling at me, and it sounded like they were a football field away, and I remember them yelling, 'You're gonna make it, you're gonna make it!' I just kept trying to tell them that I was going to die.

I feel people look up to me.

I was injured by an enemy hand grenade in Afghanistan in 2010. I spent three years recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center... And through that three years, I was forced to search for the silver linings during the long dark and painful nights and days in the hospital.

I wanted to set the story straight and really let people know what it's like and what me and my Marines went through.

I'm the same person. I got a grenade thrown at me. Situation turned out how it did. Now I'm just trying to do good things.

I'm still here and kicking and, you know, I have all my limbs so you'll never hear me complain.

So many of our wounded warriors from today's wars are alive not just because of remarkable advances in technology, but primarily because of the extraordinary dedication and skill of our military and our VA medical professionals.

As far as me being inspirational to other combat-wounded guys, I would say that it's the opposite. To see guys at Walter Reed that I recovered with every day and they were missing every single one of their limbs - that is what I would say is inspiring.

There are always fellow Marines who understand and know what you're going through. Be proud, don't be ashamed, and go out there and tackle the second life you've been given.

It's human nature for everyone to say 'what if,' but I try to snap out of it as quickly as I can because I'm never going to be able to go back and change what has happened.

I always tell people to appreciate the little things in life... Things like driving on a nice day with the windows down, and the fact that you can get a good education or you have a good job.

I'm very pleased with how far I've come, and I see my injuries and my scars and all my buddies and everybody that was at Walter Reid with me, you know I see it almost as a form of character.