Dakota Meyer
Dakota L. Meyer | |
|---|---|
  Sergeant Dakota L. Meyer | |
| Born | June 26, 1988 Greensburg, Kentucky |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 2006–2010 |
| Rank | Sergeant[1] |
| Unit | Embedded Training Team 2-8 |
| Battles / wars | Iraq War War in Afghanistan • Battle of Ganjgal |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart Navy Commendation Medal Navy Achievement Medal Combat Action Ribbon |
Dakota L. Meyer (born June 26, 1988) is a United States Marine Corps veteran and recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Ganjgal on September 8, 2009, part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kunar province, Afghanistan.
Biography
Meyer was born in Greensburg, Kentucky, and after completing training to be a United States Marine he deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, in 2007 as a Scout Sniper with 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines. He gained national attention for his actions in Afghanistan during his second deployment in Kunar province with Embedded Training Team 2-8.[2][3]
On September 8, 2009, near the village of Ganjgal, Meyer learned that three U.S. Marines and a U.S. 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 friendly Afghan soldiers he got the bodies to a safer area where they could be extracted.[4] During his search, he also saved the lives of 36 other soldiers, transporting them to safety or providing cover fire for them to safely retreat. According to his Medal of Honor citation, Dakota "personally evacuated 12 friendly wounded, and provided cover for another 24 Marines and soldiers to escape likely death at the hands of a numerically superior and determined foe."
On November 6, 2010, the Commandant of the Marine Corps General James Amos told reporters during a visit to Camp Pendleton, California, that a living Marine had been nominated for the Medal of Honor. Two days later, Marine Corps Times, an independent newspaper covering U.S. Marine operations, reported that the unnamed individual was Meyer, citing anonymous sources. CNN confirmed the story independently two days later.[5][6][7]
On June 9, 2011, the Marine Corps announced that two other Marines on Meyer's team in Ganjgal would receive the Navy Cross, the second-highest valor award a Marine can receive. Capt. Ademola D. Fabayo and Staff Sgt. Juan J. Rodriguez-Chavez were recognized for their roles in retrieving the missing Marines and corpsman. Before Meyer went looking for them on foot, Rodriguez-Chavez also drove a gun truck into the kill zone while Fabayo manned its machine gun.[8]
On July 18, 2011, President Barack Obama called Meyer and informed him his case for the Medal of Honor had been approved, Marine Corps Times reported.[9]
On August 12, 2011, it was announced by the White House that Meyer is to be awarded the Medal of Honor in a ceremony on September 15. [10][1] Meyer requested to meet President Obama during the review for the ceremony, and the two ended up sharing beers together at the White House. Meyer also insisted that when he is honored, simultaneous commemmorative services be held at other associated locations to honor the memory of his colleagues who died or were mortally wounded during the ambush and his rescue attempts.[11]
Honors and awards
Military Awards
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Medal of Honor Citation
"The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
CORPORAL DAKOTA L. MEYER
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
For service as set forth in the following
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the repeated risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a member of Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 8 September 2009. When the forward element of his combat team began to be hit by intense fire from roughly 50 Taliban insurgents dug-in and concealed on the slopes above Ganjgal village, Corporal Meyer mounted a gun-truck, enlisted a fellow Marine to drive, and raced to attack the ambushers and aid the trapped Marines and Afghan soldiers. During a six hour fire fight, Corporal Meyer single-handedly turned the tide of the battle, saved 36 Marines and soldiers and recovered the bodies of his fallen brothers. Four separate times he fought the kilometer up into the heart of a deadly U-shaped ambush. During the fight he killed at least eight Taliban, personally evacuated 12 friendly wounded, and provided cover for another 24 Marines and soldiers to escape likely death at the hands of a numerically superior and determined foe. On his first foray his lone vehicle drew machine gun, mortar, rocket grenade and small arms fire while he rescued five wounded soldiers. His second attack disrupted the enemy’s ambush and he evacuated four more wounded Marines. Switching to another gun-truck because his was too damaged they again sped in for a third time, and as turret gunner killed several Taliban attackers at point blank range and suppressed enemy fire so 24 Marines and soldiers could break-out. Despite being wounded, he made a fourth attack with three others to search for missing team members. Nearly surrounded and under heavy fire he dismounted the vehicle and searched house to house to recover the bodies of his fallen team members. By his extraordinary heroism, presence of mind amidst chaos and death, and unselfish devotion to his comrades in the face of great danger, Corporal Meyer reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service."
See also
References
- ^ a b "Marine to receive Medal of Honor next month". CNN. August 12, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ Lamothe, Dan (November 23, 2010). "MoH nominee says he does not feel like a hero". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
- ^ Estep, Bill, "Adair Native To Receive Medal Of Honor For 'Worst Day' Of His Life", Lexington Herald-Leader, 13 September 2011, p. 1.
- ^ Cole, William, "Reluctant Hero And The Weight Of A Medal", Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 28 July 2011.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Lamothe, Dan (June 9, 2011). "Marines earn Navy Cross for Ganjgal heroism". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
- ^ Lamothe, Dan (July 19, 2011). "Obama OKs Medal of Honor for living Marine". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- ^ "Obama to Present Marine With Medal of Honor in September, White House Announces". Fox News. August 12, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
- ^ http://www.pjstar.com/free/x371957547/Ex-Marine-honored-for-saving-36-in-Afghanistan
- ^ "Citation". Medal of Honor Sgt Dakota Meyer. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
External links
- Marine Corps Sgt Dakota Meyer page
- Lamothe, Dan (February 11, 2011). "Reprimands issued for troubled mission". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyer Confirmed for Medal of Honor