Video of U.S. Marine Dakota Meyer receiving Medal of Honor at White House ceremony
Sgt. Meyer received the Medal of Honor today for his acts of extraordinary heroism in Afghanistan on 8 September 2009. He was born and raised in Columbia, Kentucky, attended local public schools, and graduated from Green County High School.
In 2006, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at a recruiting station in Louisville, Kentucky, and completed his basic training at Parris Island Recruit Training Depot later that year. In 2010, Sgt Meyer completed his active duty commitment and he currently serves in the Individual Ready Reserve of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
He is a school trained sniper and highly skilled Marine infantryman. At the time of his deployment to combat duty in Afghanistan he was serving as a Turret Gunner and Driver. His unit assignment at the time of his heroic acts was with Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7 operating in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.
Sgt. Meyer has deployed twice to combat duty, serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2007, he deployed to Iraq for OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, and during 2009-10, he deployed to Afghanistan for OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.
In his civilian professional life, he has completed undergraduate college coursework and he currently works for McDan, Inc. in Kentucky’s construction industry.
Sgt. Meyer is a highly decorated Marine combat veteran. His personal awards include a Purple Heart Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V” device for valor, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and a Combat Action Ribbon. His other awards and decorations include a Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze campaign stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal ISAF Afghanistan, and a Rifle Expert Badge (3rd Award) and Pistol Expert Badge (2nd Award). Marine Corps Web Site
Full details of his heroic actions on the Official U.S. Marine Corps Web Site
See previous articles about his bravery while retrieving the bodies of four U.S. servicemen killed in an ambush in Afghanistan in 2009:
Marine Corps Cpl. Dakota Meyer to receive Medal of Honor on September 15th 2011
U.S. Marine Dakota Meyer to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan
Check Medal of Honor News later for full transcript, photos and video replay
Update (9/15/2011 @ 6:30 p.m.EST):
Video and transcript of remarks by President Obama awarding the Medal of Honor to Sgt. Dakota Meyer
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