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<\/a>At the end of an emotional week after news of the death of Padres legend Tony Gwynn and on the same day that the front office fired general manager Josh Byrnes, there was still a reason to celebrate at Petco Park on Sunday, June 22.<\/p>\n Down under the seats of the first base line, shortly before the Padres\u2019 final game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a United States Marine \u2014 small in stature but gigantic in terms of valor \u2014 stood nervously as he waited to be called to the field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the game.<\/p>\n That nervousness must have been relative, as just three days prior, Corporal William \u201cKyle\u201d Carpenter was at the White House receiving the nation\u2019s highest military honor\u00a0from the President of the United States.<\/p>\n The award was for the heroism Carpenter displayed while stationed with his squad, part of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, in Afghanistan in 2010. Carpenter, then a Lance Corporal, didn\u2019t think twice before shielding a fellow Marine from a hand grenade that landed next to them during a firefight. He spent two and a half years at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, recovering from his injuries; he lost his right eye and his right arm and much of his face were reconstructed while there. Upon discharge from Walter Reed in July of 2013 he was medically retired from the Marines.<\/p>\n In May of 2014 it was announced Carpenter would receive the military’s most prestigious award. He is the eighth living military member to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the San Diego Padres said they have a very close relationship with the Marine Corps, and their Senior Vice President of Public Affairs used to work at the Pentagon. Thus, it was just a matter of time before news that Carpenter was on his way to San Diego to speak at Camp Pendleton after receiving his award hit the front office.<\/p>\n \u201cWe found out he was coming to San Diego and invited him [to the ballpark] to be honored,\u201d said Shana Wilson, assistant director of communications for the Padres. \u201cBaseball is a great platform for the community to connect with the military.\u201d<\/p>\n Prior to the festivities, Carpenter spent time in the Clubhouse with Padres pitcher Andrew Cashner and warmed up his arm.<\/p>\n Sundays are \u201cMilitary Appreciation Day\u201d and June 22 was set aside to honor the Coast Guard. It seemed fitting to have so many military members lining the field prior to Carpenter\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n Carpenter\u2019s first order of business was to speak to the media, who were assembled behind home plate. He was asked if he was ready for his pitch.<\/p>\n \u201cMy right arm was pretty badly damaged, but I threw a few about 10 or 15 minutes ago and it went a lot better than expected,\u201d Carpenter said, smiling widely. \u201cSo I\u2019m gonna have fun with it and enjoy the day and enjoy the game and hope for the best.\u201d<\/p>\n Carpenter then told the media he played second base all through middle school and high school.<\/p>\n He was thrown a lot of questions and shared \u2014 in his Southern drawl \u2014 that he was now enrolled in the University of South Carolina, but recent events have been a whirlwind for the young Marine.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s almost like I keep pinching myself,\u201d he said. \u201cI feel like I\u2019m in a dream.<\/p>\n He was then asked about his time with the President and what he was thinking during the ceremony.<\/p>\n \u201c[President Obama] said he was very proud of me, and he said one of his greatest pleasures as president is being commander in chief, so that meant a lot,\u201d Carpenter said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very appreciative, I\u2019m very honored and I\u2019m very humbled by the award but at the same time I accepted it with a heavy heart, just knowing that there are so many that didn\u2019t make it back and there are so many that are more severely injured than I am,\u201d he said, referring to what was going through his mind at the Medal of Honor ceremony.<\/p>\n \u201cThose are the sacrifices, since the beginning of our nation, that have gotten us to where we are today and make this country free but it carries a lot of weight and it represents a lot especially to me,\u201d he said. \u201cI understand what I wear and I\u2019m just trying to make whom I wear it for proud.\u201d<\/p>\n After his pitch \u2014 which made it all the way to relief pitcher Nick Vincent stood in as catcher behind the plate \u2014 Carpenter received a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd. Vincent and Cashner met him at the mound to congratulate him and then escorted Carpenter to the sidelines with his ceremonial baseball.<\/p>\n Carpenter later spent time in the Padres broadcast booth and was then hosted \u2014 along with a few of his Marine Corps friends \u2014 by Padres co-owner Ron Fowler in the Owner\u2019s Suite for the duration of the game.<\/p>\n On the following morning, June 23, he spoke at Camp Pendleton as part of a short media tour that would include speaking engagements at New York City and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>