Medal of Honor recipient weighs run for Congress

Dakota Meyer was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2011 for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" during the Battle of Ganjgal in Kunar Province, Afghanistan in 2009.  During his commemoration ceremony, President Barack Obama noted that Meyer saved 36 lives during a Taliban ambush.

Born in 1988, Meyer is the youngest military serviceman to receive the Medal of Honor.  Since leaving the service, he's been active in charity work assisting military veterans and reportedly may have his sights set on a future in politics.

(Image: AP)

The Military Timesreports:

Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer told Marine Corps Times on Tuesday night that he is “someday” interested in running for Congress, but left the time frame for it uncertain following a day of speculation about his plans.

Meyer, 25, said in a phone interview that he is weighing his options for the future after receiving public messages of support from hundreds of people online early Tuesday, as the U.S. government went into a shutdown driven by members of Congress failing to reach a compromise on federal spending.

“I love Americans and I believe in this country,” he told Marine Corps Times. “I really appreciate the overwhelming support and encouragement, and I hope to someday serve America again.”

Questions about Meyer’s political intentions arose after he posted a series of messages on Twitter late Monday and early Tuesday. In the first, Meyer, now a sergeant in the Marine Corps Individual Ready Reserve, complained about the shutdown at 10:51 p.m.

“I’ve decided I think that for everyday the federal government shuts down, we shouldn’t have to pay federal taxes,” he said. “What about you??”

Sounds good to me!