Marine Corps veteran who became the 2nd-youngest living Medal of Honor recipient in September 2011 for his valor at the 2009 Battle of Ganjgal. He became the first Marine in 38 years to be honored so.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps directly following his high school graduation. His first deployment was in 2007 to Fallujah.
He was named the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel in September 2011 by the state's governor Steve Beshear. In September 2012, his book Into the Fire: A Firsthand Account of the Most Extraordinary Battle in the Afghan War was published.
He married Bristol Palin in June 2016 and they divorced in 2018. They had two daughters together, Sailor and Atlee.
He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by then-president Barack Obama in September 2011.