MEDAL OF HONOR: Marine Says Fighting the Taliban was Like Fighting a Pro Team | Dakota Meyer
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Published 2021-04-06
Sgt. Dakota Meyer was awarded the U.S. military Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Ganjgal on 8 September 2009, Kunar Province, Afghanistan, becoming the second Marine Corps recipient of the award in the War on Terrorism, and the first living Marine to earn the Medal of Honor since the end of the Vietnam War. His American hero story is among the most powerful of today's generation of service members.
Sgt. Meyer's Medal of Honor Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 8 September 2009. Corporal Meyer maintained security at a patrol rally point while other members of his team moved on foot with two platoons of Afghan National Army and Border Police into the village of Ganjgal for a pre-dawn meeting with village elders. Moving into the village, the patrol was ambushed by more than 50 enemy fighters firing rocket propelled grenades, mortars, and machine guns from houses and fortified positions on the slopes above. Hearing over the radio that four U.S. team members were cut off, Corporal Meyer seized the initiative. With a fellow Marine driving, Corporal Meyer took the exposed gunner's position in a gun-truck as they drove down the steeply terraced terrain in a daring attempt to disrupt the enemy attack and locate the trapped U.S. team. Disregarding intense enemy fire now concentrated on their lone vehicle, Corporal Meyer killed a number of enemy fighters with the mounted machine guns and his rifle, some at near point blank range, as he and his driver made three solo trips into the ambush area. During the first two trips, he and his driver evacuated two dozen Afghan soldiers, many of whom were wounded. When one machine gun became inoperable, he directed a return to the rally point to switch to another gun-truck for a third trip into the ambush area where his accurate fire directly supported the remaining U.S. personnel and Afghan soldiers fighting their way out of the ambush. Despite a shrapnel wound to his arm, Corporal Meyer made two more trips into the ambush area in a third gun-truck accompanied by four other Afghan vehicles to recover more wounded Afghan soldiers and search for the missing U.S. team members. Still under heavy enemy fire, he dismounted the vehicle on the fifth trip and moved on foot to locate and recover the bodies of his team members. Meyer's daring initiative and bold fighting spirit throughout the 6-hour battle significantly disrupted the enemy's attack and inspired the members of the combined force to fight on. His unwavering courage and steadfast devotion to his U.S. and Afghan comrades in the face of almost certain death reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
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All Comments (21)
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Hear from a WW2 medic who spent 90 straight days in combat along the Rhine river: https://youtu.be/TeFmBrYF9Yo
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I am a former Marine from the 90's. This young man is a Farm kid through and through. His humility is rock solid. I can see that you're not wearing the CMH. You are a Heartbroken man. It took me a long time to get back to something more normal when I got out and I didn't experience 1/2 of what you did. I appreciate you and I'm glad you survived even when your team mates didn't.
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He's a warrior. What helped me 10 years or so after Vietnam was I quit drinking and started jogging. I'm now in my 70's and I still jog daily 7 days a week 52 weeks a year regardless of weather and lift weights at a gym 4 days a week. I can't say whether that would help everybody but it works for me. I still think about it but it doesn't control my life.
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Anyone else hear his heartbeat through the mic when he starts talking about combat and people still refuse to believe war takes it's toll long term on folks
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Also a former Marine here. This man epitomizes the thinking Marine. Followed orders until they just didn't make any sense, esp when it came to protecting his team. No such thing as "just an E-4." His frustration is palpable.
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Dakota Meyer- the best of the U.S. Marines, the best of us. God bless him.
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Honest, humble, talks about his enemies with respect. Pay attention, kids. This is what a man sounds like
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Dakota, You are NOT a failure! You are a warrior and a hero! Thank you for your service! I pray all is well with you. Sending so much love your way. ❤
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This Marine epitomizes courage and loyalty! He and others like him deserve our undying respect. The Best of the Best!
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“I truly believe I am alive today because of the afghan soldiers I had next to me” Beautiful!
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You can tell that fight sits heavy on his heart and he loses a lot of sleep over it. What a warrior. Much Respect to him and my God give him piece from it all.
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"You tell your people they better not touch my Marines, they're my guys and I'll finish it." Beautiful!
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4:09 “so i raised my hand, and luckily I got selected.” Y’all boys are a different breed and I have so much respect for the attitude.
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The best interview I've heard in a long time. The questions were smart - the answers were straight and honest. ... RESPECT.
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What a humble legend. Respect from an ex Australian Navy sailor.
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Dakota- you are no way a failure...I could never be prouder of any Marine. You served your country and brothers as well as any serviceman could have. Stand tall!!!
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What an incredible person. The medal of honor doesn't not show that he's a failure. It honors the sacrifice he made to help save as many as he could. You can tell he's still grieving and has internal conflicts but he's absolutely a hero.
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"If I killed enough the war would have been over, if I saved enough, none of my teammates would have died."
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This is one MOH recipient I really worry about. I pray he knows that every breathe that he has in his body is honoring his teammates and their sacrifice.
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A lot of haters in this comment section. Criticizing America, criticizing him and the military. Shaking my head. This guy along with all the rest of the military follow the orders they’re given. It’s always the same, old men in power order young men to fight. He did what he was told to do.
