Dakota Meyer
Dakota L. Meyer | |
|---|---|
 Corporal Dakota L. Meyer | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 2006–Unknown |
| Rank | Corporal |
Dakota Meyer (born c.1988) is a United States Marine who has been nominated for the Medal of Honor. In November 2010, the Marine Corps nominated him for actions on September 8, 2009, during Operation Enduring Freedom in Kunar province, Afghanistan.
Biography
Meyer was born in Greensburg, Kentucky. He deployed once to Iraq, but has gained national attention for his actions in Afghanistan during his second deployment in Kunar province with Embedded Training Team 2-8.
On September 8, 2009, near the village of Ganjgal, Meyer learned that three Marines and a Navy corpsman were missing after being attacked by a group of insurgents. Upon hearing the news he charged into an area known to be inhabited by insurgents and under enemy fire and eventually found them dead, stripped of their gear and equipment. With the help of some of friendly Afghan soldiers he got the bodies to a safer area where they could be extracted. On Nov. 6, 2010, the Commandant of the Marine Corps General James Amos told reporters during a visit to Camp Pendleton, Calif., that a living Marine had been nominated for the Medal of Honor. Two days later, Marine Corps Times, an independent newspaper covering Marine operations, reported that the unnamed individual was Meyer, citing anonymous sources. CNN confirmed the story independently two days later.[1][2][3]
References
- ^ Lamothe, Dan (November 10, 2010). "Ambush survivor up for Medal of Honor". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
- ^ Lamothe, Dan (November 15, 2010). "Behind the Cover: An exclusive interview with Dakota Meyer, Medal of Honor nominee". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
- ^ Lamothe, Dan (November 8, 2010). "Heroism in ambush may yield top valor awards". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved November 15, 2010.