The Call of Duty Endowment is honoring U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter through a new documentary series and special downloadable content arriving alongside Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on Oct. 23.
The initiative includes the Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.): Valor Pack, developed in collaboration with Carpenter to reflect his military service, extraordinary courage and remarkable recovery from life-threatening injuries sustained during combat.
To tell the story behind the collaboration, the Endowment has also produced Forged in Valor, a three-part documentary series exploring Carpenter’s experiences and the creation of the special in-game content.
The first episode, titled The Man Behind the Medal, is available now. It follows Carpenter’s journey from his decision to join the Marine Corps through the experiences that would ultimately make him one of the nation’s most highly decorated military veterans.
Carpenter received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Afghanistan on Nov. 21, 2010. While serving as a lance corporal in Helmand province, he and a fellow Marine were manning a rooftop security position when insurgents attacked their unit with grenades.
When one grenade landed near the two Marines, Carpenter moved toward the explosive to shield his fellow Marine from the blast. He absorbed the brunt of the explosion and suffered devastating injuries.
Carpenter survived and underwent an extensive recovery. On June 19, 2014, President Barack Obama presented him with the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration for valor.
The Forged in Valor documentary explores the man behind that recognition, including the experiences that shaped his decision to serve and the resilience required to rebuild his life afterward.
The accompanying Valor Pack has been developed with Carpenter’s involvement, incorporating details inspired by his military service and personal experiences. The Call of Duty Endowment says the collaboration is intended to reflect his story authentically while introducing players to the real person behind the military honor.
The Call of Duty Endowment is a charitable initiative established to help military veterans find meaningful employment after their service. The organization has supported veteran employment programs through gaming-related fundraising efforts, including special Call of Duty content releases.
The C.O.D.E. Valor Pack is scheduled to launch Oct. 23 alongside Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. The first episode of Forged in Valor, The Man Behind the Medal, is available now, with two additional installments planned.
The documentary offers an opportunity for Call of Duty players to learn about an actual Marine whose courage and sacrifice extend far beyond the fictional battlefields of the popular military shooter series.
