Dakota Meyer, 23, displays the combat boots he wore during an eight hour battle in Ganjgal, Afghanistan, Sept. 8, 2009, on his dad's farm in Greensburg, Ky. (Photo by Sgt. Jimmy D. Shea)
Sgt. Dakota Meyer is the first living Marine to be nominated for the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War, and the actions he took that led him to be nominated was, as he called it, “just doing the right thing”.
On September 9th, 2009, Meyer and his platoon went into a village to conduct a routine mission, but when they entered the area, when his team came under fire. When it became apparent that they needed assistance, Meyer radioed into his lieutenant requesting permission to go in and help multiple times. Each time he was denied.
Disobeying orders, Sgt. Meyer decided that he and another service member would get into the fight and help their comrades out to safety. They drove a truck into the fray and made several trips under fire to recover the bodies of the fallen, help the wounded and provided aid. His actions ultimately saved the lives of 13 Marines and 23 Afghan soldiers. Sgt. Meyer honors his fallen comrades with two armbands that he wears all the time, but through it all he says that it’s not about him.
“It’s not for me, it’s for the guys who died and their families.” Sgt. Meyer said.
Dakota Meyer is scheduled to receive the metal of honor on September 15th in a ceremony scheduled at the White House.
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