Marine Sgt. Receives Medal of Honor for Saving 36 Lives in Afghanistan
- Posted on September 15, 2011 at 6:57pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Honor to former Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyer, 23, from Greensburg, Ky,. Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, during a White House ceremony. Meyer was in Afghanistan's Kunar province in Sept. 2009 when he repeatedly ran through enemy fire to recover the bodies of fellow American troops. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — President Barack Obama on Thursday bestowed the nation’s highest military honor on Dakota Meyer, a young and humble Marine who defied orders and barreled straight into a ferocious “killing zone” in Afghanistan to save 36 lives at extraordinary risk to himself.
“You did your duty, above and beyond,” Obama told Meyer after reciting his dramatic story. Though the corporal and a fellow Marine were going against orders – commanders considered their effort too dangerous – they were doing what they thought was right, Obama said.
The president placed the Medal of Honor ribbon around Meyer’s neck, patted his back and shook his hand as the audience in the White House East Room applauded.
At age 21, Meyer charged through heavy insurgent gunfire on five death-defying trips in an armored Humvee to save 13 Marines and Army soldiers and an additional 23 Afghan troops pinned down by withering enemy fire.
Meyer killed at least eight insurgents despite suffering a shrapnel wound in his arm as he manned the gun turret of the Humvee and provided covering fire for the soldiers, according to the military.
He had been supporting a patrol on Sept. 8, 2009, into a village in the Ganjgal Valley on the day of the ambush.
Meyer and the other Americans had gone to the area to train Afghan military members when, suddenly, the village lights went out and gunfire erupted. About 50 Taliban insurgents on mountainsides and in the village ambushed the patrol.
As the forward team called for air support that wasn’t coming, Meyer, a corporal at the time, begged his command to let him head into the incoming fire to help.
Meyer is the first living Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Four times he was denied his request before Meyer and another Marine, Staff Sgt. Juan Rodriguez-Chavez, jumped into the Humvee and headed into the fray. For his valor, Rodriguez-Chavez, a 34-year-old who hailed originally from Acuna, Mexico, would be awarded the Navy Cross.
“They told him he couldn’t go in,” said Dwight Meyer, Dakota Meyer’s 81-year-old grandfather, a former Marine who served in the 1950s. “He told them, `The hell I’m not,’ and he went in. It’s a one-in-a-million thing” that he survived.
Meyer and Rodriguez-Chavez began evacuating wounded Marines and American and Afghan soldiers to a safe point. Meyer made five trips into the kill zone, each time searching for the forward patrol with his Marine friends – including 1st Lt. Michael Johnson – whom Meyer had heard yelling on the radio for air support.
With Meyer and Rodriguez-Chavez ready to test fate a fifth time, a UH-60 helicopter arrived at last to provide overhead support. Troops aboard the chopper told Meyer they had spotted what appeared to be four bodies. Meyer knew those were his friends and he had to bring them out.
“Dakota, I know you’ve grappled with the grief of that day, that you said your efforts were somehow a failure because your teammates didn’t come home,” the president said. “But as your commander in chief and on behalf of everyone here today and all Americans, I want you to know it’s quite the opposite.”
President Barack Obama and Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer each shared a beer on the patio outside of the Oval Office, Sept. 14, 2011. (Pete Souza/The White House)
Obama and Meyer chatted informally Wednesday evening, on a patio outside the Oval Office, over a beer.
In the ceremony, Obama praised Meyer’s humility and work ethic, noting that he would not even take a call from the president during his shift at a construction job because he was working. He’s now out of the Marines. So they two arranged to talk over his lunch hour. Obama jokingly kidded him with thanks for taking the call.
The deaths of Meyer’s comrades prompted an investigation into events that day, and two Army officers were later reprimanded for being “inadequate and ineffective” and for “contributing directly to the loss of life.” Along with Meyer’s friends, a fifth American – Army Sgt. Kenneth W. Westbrook, 41, of Shiprock, N.M. – was fatally wounded in the ambush.
Meyer had said he would be humbled by the memory of his fallen comrades as he received the award Thursday. There were to be separate memorial events, including one at a Columbus, Ga., cemetery for gunnery sergeant Johnson, a father of three who served nearly 13 years in the Marine Corps.
Will Duke, one of the organizers of the tribute, said the memorials spoke volumes about Meyer.
“I can tell by his actions, not only the actions he took in earning the Medal of Honor in Afghanistan but also the actions he is taking now. Essentially by requesting these memorial services for his fallen comrades, he’s saying this is about them,” Duke said.
Editor’s note: The headline for this post has been changed. It originally read “Marine Cpl. Receives Medal of Honor for Saving 36 Lives in Afghanistan.” Meyer was a corporal at the time of his actions, and is identified as such in the Medal of Honor citation. He was later promoted to sergeant.
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Comments (132)
NewLife56
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:04pmYou make us Kentucky folk proud Cpl, congrats and God Bless
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:32pmand this is one of the men the Westboro Baptist Church believes “deserve to die”…..
Sgt Dakota Meyer, you are a shining example of Honor, Bravery, Commitment, Humility, Loyalty.
Thank you for your service and God Bless you.
Report Post »mils
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:40pmWhen i first heard about this…My first thought was..’
“i‘m surprised he wasn’t court martialed for disobeying an order”… i think that last year he would have been…but they need good press now…
thank you former marine cpl Dakota Meyer, you‘re a very brave man and what we’re all about as a people.
Report Post »woodyb
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:57pmDid Obama write this article???
He is probably the only living being who thinks a corporal wears three stripes — (remember the Nany corps(e)man???????????
Report Post »EZDOZIT
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 10:10pmThis is one of them there hillbillies Bill Mahers makes fun of all the time.
Report Post »A little over 900 hillbillies destroyed the British army at The Battle on King Mountain.
They were to join Cornwallus to defeat Washingtons army at Yorktown, they didn’t make it.
America lost more hillbillies in WWII than any other group.
Then there was Sgt. York in WWI.
Cpl. Dakota Meyers only gets a beer?
America should buy him a house like they did for Sgt. York.
Obama should give him one of his vacations.
This should be made into a movie. Thank you Sir.
EZDOZIT
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 10:19pmThank you Sgt. Meyer
Report Post »KYWATCHDOG
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 10:34pmMr. President. With all due respect to the office you hold. How hard did you have to swallow to honor this American Hero? Don’t worry sir, his good deeds aren‘t contagious to those who don’t share the values.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 10:48pmKYWATCHDOG, I think your are a little confused. Unlike Bush, President Obama has gone after Al Qaeda wherever in Afghanistan and Pakistan they have hidden. He directed the mission to kill Osamba Bin Laden, and many other major terrorists have also been killed by drones.
You can hate President Obama for whatever reason you may have. That’s fine. But don‘t say he’s not going after, and killing the bad guys. You know, the ones trying to kill us.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 11:13pmJZS: Please can the swipe at President Bush (which is standard rhetoric from the Left, ) but I do appreciate the current president’ s support of the use of drones. Sure want to kill these guys before they end up in the hands of the Civil Trial / Tax paid hands of the Holder DOJ !
Report Post »Bum thrower
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 11:23pmThank you, to a GREAT AMERICAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »FatherlandPatriot88
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 2:10amGet you damn paws off that HERO you damn ISLAMIST TERRERIST! I‘m surprised that monkey didn’t try to choke him out like a street thug for killing so many of his MISLIM BROTHERS! HES A MISLIM!
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0eoE9mi9iw
rangerp
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 6:50am@jzs
you state that Obama has gone after AQI more aggressively than Bush. That my friend is pure bunk. Obama flapped his ignorant jaws during his run for oppice, claiming that Iraq was the wrong war, at the wrong time, and Afghanistan was the right war at the right time. Check and see how much more restrictive the rules of engagement are now, compared to when Bush was President.
He did a surge in Afghanistan for nation building (check world history, it does not work).
Obama did not get Osama. Our military got him, and it took ten years to do. It was an ongoing and continious operation. Obama just happen to be in the office when it happened. It would like saying that Pres Truman gets all credit for the U.S being victorious in WWII. It is just not the case. take a look at how long it took police (local, state, and federal) to catch Eric Rudolph, and he was inside the U.S. Chassing one man is not an easy task, when he has millions behind him, and Pakistan helping hide him.
Report Post »Unstable Phenomenon
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 9:30am@ MIDWESTMOM: I agree with you on that. It‘s too bad obama didn’t believe any of his own words he spoke that day.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 2:21pmAnother glorrified terrorist!
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 8:24pmWonder if Obama introduced him as being in the Marine Corpse?
Report Post »God Bless this brave man for doing his duty to his fellow marines and to God.
kenr1963
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:01pmHope you have a great life and that peace will always follow you GOD bless you and Semper Fi brother.
Report Post »Virgil_Lance
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:40pmGod bless this heroic Marine. I’m so happy that our government bestowed the medal of honor that he so rightly deserves, rather than court-martialing and imprisoning him for failure to follow orders and for killing 8 Afghan “civilians”.
Report Post »Dangerous Dave
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:01pmI wonder if Obummer called him a “corpse” man while they were having a cold one??? Dakota was probably drinking a Bud while Mr. Soetero had an O’Douls… Hopefully Barry’s handlers fixed the teleprompter. It probably read “core” for corps.
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 8:26pmYup! This was the first thought that came to me, spelling core like a apple would help the poor silly man pronounce the word properly. He had no idea how to pronounce Corps.
Report Post »neocon1
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:54pmHellooooo Sargent,
Report Post »I cant believe this Marine gets a medal from a shoeshine boy never was.
SgtB
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:46pmThose look suspiciously like Sergeant chevrons to me Blaze. I know that you got this story from the AP, but shouldn‘t someone on your site be responsible to make sure you don’t dis a Marine on the day that he is presented our nation’s highest honor by calling him a lower rank? I’m sure the story is mixed up because he was a Corporal when the event happened, but his current rank is Sergeant and you should at least note that the story is wrong by adding sic or a comment at the end of the story.
Report Post »Mahakala
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:05pmThey wee referring to his ranks at the time of his brave action
Report Post »Man Up America
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:17pmI’m with B on this. I’m pretty sure he worked pretty hard for that extra stripe.
Report Post »Man Up America
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:21pmI also love the fact that that traitor will have to salute a Marine that he disagrees with on a fundamental level for the rest of his short term. God that has to eat him like nothing else.
Report Post »wes71
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:44pmHis rank was Corporal when the cited action took place. Semper Fi Devil Dog! May God bless you with peace.
Report Post »teslawasrobd
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:51pmGood call SGTB !!!
Report Post »I heard the Sargeant’s comment about being recognized for what he called the worst day of his life ( loosing 4 brothers) I know our “commander and chief ” is charged with the duty of issuing the medal but my heart is saddend knowing that he has no clue of what this“ leatherneck ” did or what it truly means. My deepest respect and gratitude goes out to Sgt. Dakota Myers USMC “Semper Fi”
right-wing-waco
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:38pmDakota is the kind of person we need in the White House. This man makes me proud to be an American and about all I can say to him is THANK YOU for your service and the heroic rescues that you made.
Report Post »Danzig
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:31pmI hope the Univ. KY invites our native son to an upcoming football game so that he can get a standing ovation he richly deserves for his service. The Univ. annually invites soldiers from Fort Campbell to a game and it is such a wonderful sight to see and honor those who proudly and honorably serve our country.
Report Post »Airb0rne4325
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:27pmLove the fact that he wouldn’t take the call from the prez when he was working.
“Hey Meyer, President’s on the phone for ya!”
“Tell‘em I’m busy right now. I’ll call him later.”
Tells alot about the man. Fiercely independent, does what he feels is right. That’s why he requested 4 times to go in and was denied 4 times but did it anyway. Saving all those men and honoring himself, the Corps and the USA. Modern day hero in this age of “Jersey Shore”. I hope they will make a movie out of it, be about the only way any young people will learn of his exploits.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:55pmHey Airborne! All the way and then some! I was 2/325 for most of my time.
Report Post »MastrSSG
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:52amWell thats 3 of us! I was 82nd before Going SF
Report Post »SpeckChaser
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:34pmIn case your wondering, the three posters before me kick ass. Thanks for all y’all have done.
Report Post »Banter
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:14pmConcerning the photo – on the left we have America’s pride, on the right we have ameriKa’s shame.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:25pmToo true .. on the left is a real man … on the right a little man-child.
Hero … is not a strong enough word for someone who did what this MAN (Dakota) did.
Report Post »Charlie Justice
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:07pmOOH-RAH…(it’s a Marine Corps thing)
God Bless our heroes.
Report Post »antiencenom
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:14pmBetter be careful Cpl Meyer Next thing you know your chopper will be going down
Report Post »DONTSINGITBRINGIT
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:56pmFortunately, Marines don’t ride in choppers.
Report Post »antiencenom
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 8:18amUm wasn’t Seal Team 6 murdered when their chopper.was blown out of the sky!!!
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:56pmThe main thing that Obama should take from his Presidency when we the people relieve him of his Command, is that he will have been in the company of heroes for 4 years and that vastly outweighs all the other company he surrounded himself with before he was lucky enough to have the honor of POTUS.
I surely hope he and his First Lady never forget when they ride off into the sunset who and what really made and makes America great.
BRAVO SGT!!
Report Post »bbhouston
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:12pmThat is very well said Yepi……
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:57pm…Meyer encountered a Marine recruiter in the school lunchroom. Although his grandfather had been a Marine, Meyer said, he hadn’t considered the military as part of his future. He went up to the recruiter out of curiosity, and as they talked, Meyer told him about his plans to play college football somewhere.
The recruiter told him that was a good plan because “there’s no way you could be a Marine.”
Meyer walked away but quickly returned.
“You pick up your stuff right now,” Meyer told the recruiter. “Let’s go sign the papers.”
Meyer was 17. He needed a parent’s permission to join the military. When his father came home from work, he found Meyer and the recruiter waiting.
“When did you think about this?” his father, Mike, asked.
“About three hours ago,” Meyer said.
Report Post »jessieH
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:54pmSemper-fi!
Report Post »arx
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:10pmI second that. And now even a general must salute him first, if he is wearing dress uniform (medal is visible). I just wish the story had deleted all references to Obmao
Report Post »antiencenom
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:19pmLook at the contempt on Zero’s face as he looks down on this good marine
Report Post »Common.Cents
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:48pmAbsolutely wonderful. I am just glad that President Obama didn’t ask him to help pass the jobs bill.
Thank you for your valor.
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:29pmi‘m suprised he didn’t.
Report Post »arvadadan
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:45pmSemper Fi Marine, it looks like he is a Sgt Now, perhaps they should adjust the Headline…
Report Post »samisus
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:42pmI respect what this man did in combat. I have served multiple tours in Iraq and since the 2008 election I debated if I was ever awarded the MOH would I accept it from this president. I really still don’t have an answer…I wonder if it was awkward sitting across from Obama…know how little he respects the military? Again great job Corporal!!! You are a hero
Report Post »Lucy Larue
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:59pmSAMISUS,
Report Post »I would NOT!
Sad non? Such bravery…, and this is the Commander in Chief who pins his medal on. UGH!
President Dunham has no sense of the greatness of this nation..
This brave soldier.., so polite. What was he REALLY thinking?
spirited
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:04pmWhat was he thinking?
————————
Probably of the events that gave cause for the event held in his honor.
—->What an amazing human being!
…and so young!!!
>A
Report Post »long,
healthy,
happy,
loving,
life
Mr. Cpl. Dakota Meyer.
Tracker2021
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:42pmSemper Fidelis Brother!!!
Report Post »phrogdriver
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:39pmNot to be nit-picky, but he’s a Sgt., not a Cpl.
Report Post »Catchout
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:48pmHe was a Cpl when it happened. He was promoted to Sgt. after the events
Report Post »chazman
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:50pm… he was a Cpl. during the fire fight …
Report Post »shirelover
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:38pmThank you Dakota Meyer for your dedication and service.
Report Post »Banter
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:37pmAmerica at its finest.
Report Post »antiencenom
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:30pmThe Marine …right
Report Post »Banter
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:34pmSee my post above. You can be confident I was talking about the Marine Hero.
Report Post »antiencenom
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 8:58pmI’m Sorry Bad attempt a sarcasim
Report Post »Banter
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:02pmIt’s all good! :-)
Report Post »cabnetdude
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:33pmI wish more Americans had one onehundreth of the honor that this man has shown.
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 6:53amI have news for you. While there are millions of disgusting pukes in the USA, there are many many more that are just like this guy. They are all over the place quietly living their lives.
Report Post »Rex Tex
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:28pmThis award speaks volumes about the character of the man who made this possible; Gen. John Allen, USMC. As the new commander in the Afghan theater he dug this awful story out of the pile the Army had swept it under and punished the guilty and rewarded the lowly heroes. What the Army did not know apparently is there is one immutable rule for Marines that overrides all orders from higher ups. Marines never leave Marines on the battlefield, dead, wounded, or alive. Orders do not have to be given to do this. It is automatic and no Marine can ignore this rule.
America will hear more from this fine General.
Report Post »TruthSpeaker
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:21pmI read this with tears in my eyes and pride in my heart. God bless this Marine. He IS what America
Report Post »is all about.
AvengerK
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:44pmand just think…it was only 2006 when Obama was saying men like Dakota Meyer were just “airraiding villages and killing civilians” in Afghanistan. My how the worm has turned.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:57pmGood thing Meyers isn’t a corpsman. Obama would have been confused.
Report Post »In any case, congratulations Sgt. you honour yourself and the corps.
progressiveslayer
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:20pmWell done cpl Meyer thank you for your service.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:17pmCongradulations son, congradulations, and well earned.
One thing people have to understand, while orders are usually orders and with good reason; there are times when you have to chose to do otherwise…and fully prepared to pay the price for it as well. He won against death that day as did his buddies and the Afghani forces saved as well.
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:03pmFortuna audaces iuvat
Report Post »hud
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 9:26amBut the bold gets his award from “the slimeball”, most unfortunate
Report Post »