View Full Version : Another Medal of Honor Recipient
swatsurgeon
09-14-2011, 22:08
Obama will present Dakota Meyer with America's highest military decoration for his heroics in September 2009 -- when the then 21-year-old Marine corporal repeatedly risked his own life to save the lives of 36 US and Afghan troops who were ambushed in a town in Afghanistan's Kunar Province.
The Kentucky serviceman, who also retrieved the bodies of four American soldiers under heavy fire, will be the first living Marine to get the medal in 41 years, WKYT reported
It is a great recognition...
POTUS seems to be doing this more this last year.....PLEASE tell me this is not political but just the timing of the war and recognition of true heros in an appropiate time frame.
ss
Surf n Turf
09-14-2011, 22:21
Doesn't appear to be political.
Events were in 2009. Well done Marine -
SnT
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."
http://professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34411&highlight=dakota+meyer
Good to see he is finally recieving it.
The Reaper
09-15-2011, 15:57
Congratulations, Sergeant.
And yes, I think that given seven years of war, with no living recipients of the Medal, and now several from three different branches of service in the past year or so, it is political. It is one of the most "Presidential" looking things the POTUS can do, and no one will complain about what he is doing.
No issues with the current recipients, just think that there were others prior to 2009 who deserved it as well.
TR
It's a done deal Sgt Dakota has been presented the MOH!
Angry Mike
09-15-2011, 16:47
http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/military-medal-of-honor-william-swenson-report-ganjgal-hero-recommended-091411w/
CPT Swenson has been nominated by GEN Allen.
Good luck to him.
Hope he outlasts the politics on this one.
Congratulations, Sergeant.
And yes, I think that given seven years of war, with no living recipients of the Medal, and now several from three different branches of service in the past year or so, it is political. It is one of the most "Presidential" looking things the POTUS can do, and no one will complain about what he is doing.
No issues with the current recipients, just think that there were others prior to 2009 who deserved it as well.
TR
Roy Benavidez was awarded the MOH 14 years after his valorous actions; the last MOH for the Korean War was awarded in 2005; the final MOH's for WW2 weren't awarded until 2000 and for Vietnam in 2002 and 2007.
The proverbial 'fat lady' in the GWOT hasn't sung yet.
And so it goes...
Thank you, Sergeant Dakota.
Richard :munchin
Peregrino
09-15-2011, 18:35
I wish him every good fortune dealing with the aftermath and hope he continues to serve in some capacity. America - the part that's at the mall - needs the example.
Congratulations, Sergeant.
And yes, I think that given seven years of war, with no living recipients of the Medal, and now several from three different branches of service in the past year or so, it is political. It is one of the most "Presidential" looking things the POTUS can do, and no one will complain about what he is doing.
No issues with the current recipients, just think that there were others prior to 2009 who deserved it as well.
TR
Concur.
Perhaps this development should be filed under the "no good deed goes unpunished" category.
LINK (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204753404577066703457602304.html?m od=WSJ_hp_MIDDLETopStories)
Excerpt:
Two months ago, Dakota Meyer was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama for his service in Afghanistan, the military's most prestigious award. On Monday, Sgt. Meyer alleged that a defense contractor has called him mentally unstable and a problem drinker, ruining his chances for a job in the defense industry.
In legal papers filed Monday, the Marine claims that BAE Systems, where he worked earlier this year, retaliated against him after he raised objections about BAE's alleged decision to sell high-tech sniper scopes to the Pakistani military. He says his supervisor at BAE effectively blocked his hiring by another defense contractor by making the claims about drinking and his mental condition.
Perhaps this development should be filed under the "no good deed goes unpunished" category.
LINK (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204753404577066703457602304.html?m od=WSJ_hp_MIDDLETopStories)
Excerpt:
Two months ago, Dakota Meyer was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama for his service in Afghanistan, the military's most prestigious award. On Monday, Sgt. Meyer alleged that a defense contractor has called him mentally unstable and a problem drinker, ruining his chances for a job in the defense industry.
In legal papers filed Monday, the Marine claims that BAE Systems, where he worked earlier this year, retaliated against him after he raised objections about BAE's alleged decision to sell high-tech sniper scopes to the Pakistani military. He says his supervisor at BAE effectively blocked his hiring by another defense contractor by making the claims about drinking and his mental condition.
This could be a sh**storm in the making. As a MOH recipient, he is not exactly the kind of whistleblower they can sweep under the rug and ignore.
This is absolutely appalling.
Here is another article from today.
http://news.yahoo.com/marine-won-medal-honor-fights-allegations-mentally-unstable-171346866.html
Get some, Marine.
Congratulations and Thank You Sergeant Meyer:lifter
This is absolutely appalling.
Here is another article from today.
http://news.yahoo.com/marine-won-medal-honor-fights-allegations-mentally-unstable-171346866.html
Get some, Marine.
Thanks Gypsy!
It is appalling that this is happening to a War Hero Marine. What's also appalling is BAE and DOS's decision to sell high tech equipment to the Paks.
This is not going away anytime soon and I see some high level corporate heads rolling on the carpet.
$$$$$$ earned by BAE more important than American soldiers lives? Foreign Policy before American soldiers lives??
:mad: You have got to be kidding me. :mad:
The Reaper
11-30-2011, 18:15
Thanks Gypsy!
It is appalling that this is happening to a War Hero Marine. What's also appalling is BAE and DOS's decision to sell high tech equipment to the Paks.
This is not going away anytime soon and I see some high level corporate heads rolling on the carpet.
$$$$$$ earned by BAE more important than American soldiers lives? Foreign Policy before American soldiers lives??
:mad: You have got to be kidding me. :mad:
No one sells HSLD equipment overseas without government permission.
Every major company, especially defense contractors has an ITAR specialist.
I have no doubt that any sensitive gear sold to the Paks was approved by DoS and DoD.
At the same time, BAE (US arm of British Aerospace) has allegedly acted in a reprehensible manner in this case.
I hope that SGT Meyer wins another fight. They definitely picked the wrong guy to screw with.
TR