Soldier from Northern California to receive Medal of Honor

A soldier from Northern California will receive the Medal of Honor for bravery during combat in Afghanistan, the White House announced Monday.

Staff Sgt. Ty Michael Carter will receive the medal from President Obama in a White House ceremony set for Aug. 26.

Carter, 33, is being recognized for bravery during a six-hour battle in Afghanistan’s mountainous Nuristan province on Oct., 3, 2009. Eight U.S. soldiers were killed and 25 wounded as enemy fighters attempted, unsuccessfully, to overrun Combat Outpost Keating.

Carter risked his life to take ammunition to other soldiers and to provide first aid to a wounded soldier who was pinned down by enemy fire. He also killed several enemy fighters.

Carter was serving as a cavalry scout with the 4th Infantry Division’s Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. He is now with the 7th Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. He completed a second deployment to Afghanistan in October.

Born in Spokane, Carter’s family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area when he was barely a year old. Although his family moved back to Spokane a decade later, Carter continues to list Antioch in Contra Costa County, north of San Francisco, as his hometown.

Carter served in the Marine Corps from 1998 to 2002, including assignments in Egypt and San Clemente Island. After receiving an honorable discharge, he studied biology at Los Medanos Community College in Pittsburg, also in Contra Costa County.

In 2008 he enlisted in the Army. He and his wife have three children.

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Twitter: @LATSanDiego

tony.perry@latimes.com