Bruce W . Carter Bruce Wayne Carter ( May 7 , 1950 – August 7 , 1969 ) was a United States Marine who was killed in action during the Vietnam War . He was posthumous ly received the Medal of Honor for his heroism . In August 1969 , his unit was under heavy fire when a grenade landed between him and his fellow Marines – Carter threw himself on the grenade , sacrificing his life to save the lives of others . Biography . Carter was born May 7 , 1950 , in Schenectady , New York . He received his early schooling at Queens Elementary School in Pasadena , Texas . From September 1959 until January 1960 , he attended Gretna Park Elementary School in Gretna , Louisiana , and graduated from Mimosa Park Elementary School , Mimosa Park , Louisiana , in May 1962 . PFC Carter ’ s education continued in Hialeah , Florida , where he attended Filer Junior High and Hialeah Junior High . He then attended Miami Springs Junior and High Schools ( Florida ) , prior to entering West Jefferson High School in Wego , Louisiana . He left West Jefferson in June 1968 to enlist in the U . S . Marine Corps at Jacksonville , Florida , on August 12 , 1968 . Ordered to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island , South Carolina , he completed recruit training with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion in October 1968 , and individual combat training with the 1st Infantry Training Battalion at the Marine Corps Base , Camp Lejeune , North Carolina , the following December . Promoted to private first class , January 1 , 1969 , he attended the Vietnamese Language Course at Monterey , California , until March . Ordered to the Republic of Vietnam in April 1969 , he served as a radio operator / radio man with Company H , 2nd Battalion , 3rd Marines , 3rd Marine Division . On August 7 , 1969 , while participating in Operation Idaho Canyon north of Vandegrift Combat Base , Quang Tri Province , PFC Carter ' s unit was maneuvering against the enemy and came under a heavy fire from a numerically superior hostile force . The lead element soon became separated from the main body of the squad by a brush fire . Pfc . Carter and his fellow marines were pinned down by vicious crossfire when , with complete disregard for his safety , he stood in full view of the North Vietnamese Army soldiers to deliver a devastating volume of fire at their positions . The accuracy and aggressiveness of his attack caused several enemy casualties and forced the remainder of the soldiers to retreat from the immediate area . Shouting directions to the marines around him , Pfc . Carter then commenced leading them from the path of the rapidly approaching brush fire when he observed a hostile grenade land between him and his companions . Fully aware of the probable consequences of his action but determined to protect the men following him , he unhesitatingly threw himself over the grenade , absorbing the full effects of its detonation with his body . Decorations . His medals and decorations include : the Medal of Honor ( posthumously ) , the Purple Heart , the Combat Action Ribbon , the National Defense Service Medal , the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star , and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal . Medal of Honor citation . The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to PRIVATE FIRST CLASS BRUCE W . CARTER UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION : / S / RICHARD M . NIXON