Dakota meyer was born and raised in columbia, kentucky, and enlisted in the unites states marine corps in 2006. Marine corps sergeant dakota meyer was awarded the congressional medal for saving 36 lives in the heat of extensive combat, in afghanistan. Medal of honor recipient dakota meyer was nearly taken prisoner at gunpoint. Dakota meyer was presented with a custom knife made by gene baskett, a custom ar15 rifle, and honorary membership in the knifemakers guild. Dakota meyer already received the nations top award for valor that day. In 2011, he was awarded the congressional medal of honor for his unyielding courage in the battle of ganjigal. Marine combat veteran dakota meyer received the medal of honor in sept. Meyer born june 26, 1988 is a veteran united states marine and a veteran of the war in afghanistan. White house response to questions about dakota meyers medal. A firsthand account of the most extraordinary battle in the afghan war sep 25, 2012. With a fellow marine driving, corporal meyer took the exposed gunners position in a guntruck as they drove down the steeply terraced terrain in a daring attempt to disrupt the enemy attack and locate the trapped u.
This is dakota meyer s story and other characters are secondary to him. This new book about the biggest battle in afghanistan explains how poor army. Today one of our own will be awarded the medal of honor for valorous acts in combat. Into the fire share book recommendations with your friends. A firsthand account of the most extraordinary battle in the afghan war. Sep 15, 2011 dakota meyer, a former marine corps corporal, was awarded the medal of honor for saving the lives of 36 us and afghan troops pinned down in a taliban ambush in afghanistan in 2009. Medal of honor recipient dakota meyers new book is scheduled to be released in september, three years after the devastating battle that led to his heroic actions. Dakota meyer wife, bristol plain, wedding, children. This is what happened to dakota meyer when he was deployed as a. Dakota meyer is awarded medal of honor the new york times. In the end, meyer and four stalwart comradesan army captain, an afghan sergeant major, and two marinescleared the battlefield and came to grips with a tragedy they knew could have been avoided. President obama awards medal of honor to dakota meyer.
Into the fire dakota meyer and bing west 9780812993400. Marines promoted inflated story for medal of honor winner. Dakota louis meyer born june 26, 1988 is a united states marine. Leroy petry was born on 29 july 1979, in santa fe, new mexico, to larry and lorella tapia petry, of mexican american descent. Dakota meyer, a former marine corps corporal, was awarded the medal of honor for saving the lives of 36 us and afghan troops pinned down in a taliban ambush in afghanistan in 2009. Dakota meyer was born and raised in columbia, kentucky, and enlisted in the united states marine corps in 2006. This book is more than one military battle in the afghan war. According to dakota meyers citation for the medal of honor, he was recognized, 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 28, regional corps advisory command 37, in kunar province, afghanistan, on 8 september 2009. He is the new york times bestselling author of the book, into the fire. In his youth, he was described as very active and likable by his friends and family. For his actions on that day, meyer became the first living marine in. Marine hero dakota meyers book set for september medal of. Help honor marines by educating their children through the marine corps scholarship foundation.
In recognition of his military actions in afghanistan on behalf of his fellow servicemen and his country that resulted in his receiving the congressional medal of honor, u. Medal of honor recipient sergeant dakota meyer usmc part 1. Last week, i had the honor of speaking at the scholarship foundations national scholarship announcement ceremony, where i had the opportunity to meet some of the incredible scholarship recipients from the 20182019 class of marine scholars. As the president said that day, in sergeant dakota meyer we see the. Disregarding intense enemy fire now concentrated on their lone vehicle, corporal meyer killed a number of enemy fighters. Marines promoted inflated story for medal of honor recipient. Sep 15, 2011 president obama awards sergeant dakota l. Dakota meyer, a marine who disregarded orders, is awarded. Medal of honor recipient dakota meyer says he was disinvited from the u. What sticks with me is that we send guys like dakota meyer, pat tillman and thousands.
Sergeant dakota meyers family and friends, its a real privilege for me to be here today to pay tribute to this remarkable marine. Jan 01, 2012 into the fire by dakota meyer and bing west is a first person point of view of the battle in ganjigal, afghanistan in 2009. Dakota meyer describes how he reflexively switched from his machine gun to his rifle and back to. Dakota meyer was awarded thursday the medal of honor, the us governments highest military decoration. Marine to receive the medal of honor in 42 years, and he has written a compelling new book about the war in afghanistan and the day he earned his medal with incredible acts of bravery on the battlefield. Until tonight, however, few had seen a gritty warzone video of swenson on the battlefield during it. This is what happened to dakota meyer when he was deployed as a marine in afghanistan, and what he did about it. This is the story of a young mans life and his coming of age in a confused and very complicated world with little to guide him or humanity on a clear path. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. His patrol, with two afghan army platoons, was headed to a meeting in a village.
Sep 28, 2012 medal of honor recipient dakota meyers new book is scheduled to be released in september, three years after the devastating battle that led to his heroic actions. President obama awards dakota meyer the medal of honor. A veteran of the war in afghanistan, he was awarded the medal of honor for his actions during the battle of ganjgal on 8 september 2009, kunar province, afghanistan. Carrying valor to a level seldom seen and rarely honored, dakota meyers story of battle is simultaneously inspiring and heartwrenching.
Nov 14, 2016 medal of honor recipient dakota meyer says he was disinvited from the u. Tell all book reveals fiercest afghan battle, critiques inept officers. Making my brothers proud marine corps scholarship foundation. President barack obama, from remarks given at meyers medal of honor ceremony sergeant meyer embodies all that is good about our nations corps of marines. A sergeant in the army national guard recorded it while working that day on. This book also gives some insight into ptsd and survivors guilt. Medal of honor recipient banned from marine corps ball for. This is one of the firsthand accounts of war that all americans should read. That guy having a beer with the president is dakota meyer. He is an actor, known for maximum warrior 4 20, range 15 2016 and the joe rogan experience 2009. Marine medal of honor recipient, nations best faces. Videos contradict medal of honor recipients account of. Throughout the book, meyer, a sergeant in the marine corps.
In the book, meyer makes a case for army captain william d. Dec 05, 2011 marine corps sergeant dakota meyer was awarded the congressional medal for saving 36 lives in the heat of extensive combat, in afghanistan. Military hero sergeant dakota meyer us marines top. Meyer is the first living marine recipient of the medal of honor for actions in iraq or afghanistan. President barack obama, from remarks given at meyers medal of honor ceremony in the fall of 2009, taliban insurgents ambushed a patrol of afghan soldiers and marine advisors in a mountain village called ganjigal. Dakota meyer begins by telling about some of the missions he had just prior to the. Dakotas storytelling is precise and, for a medal of honor recipient, touchingly humble. President obama paid tribute to dakota meyer as a humble young man who repeatedly placed himself in extraordinary danger to save men he regarded as.
Dec 14, 2011 the president was very proud to present the medal of honor to sergeant meyer for his extraordinary service in afghanistan. But now, instead of being honored, dakota meyer is experiencing retaliation for having blown the whistle o. Into the fire is a deeply compelling tale of valor and duty. Dakota meyer and israel del toro to speak at american heroes. Dakota meyer explains why he hates his medal of honor. Dakota meyer was born and raised in columbia, kentucky and enlisted in the united states marine corps in 2006. He is best known for being awarded the medal of honor for his actions during the battle of ganjgal on september 8, 2009, in kunar province, afghanistan. He is the third of five sons, with older brothers larry armando and lloyd, and younger brothers lyndon and lincoln. He works in construction now, but on september 8, 2009, he was a corporal in the us marines. Meyer is a united states marine corps veteran and recipient of the militarys highest honor, the medal of honor.
A schooltrained sniper and highlyskilled infantryman, corporal meyer deployed to iraq in 2007 and to afghanistan in 2009. Meyer is a united states marine corps veteran, the recipient of the medal of honor the militarys highest honor, and the new york times bestselling author of into the fire. This book describes the actions that dakota meyer took that, in return, allowed him to receive a medal of honor. He is the bestselling author of the book, into the fire. He was presented with such a prestigious honor for his bravery at the 2009 battle of ganjgal by the thenpresident of. Dakota meyer will not identify as a hero, but he will, i think, accept the title warrior. Dakota meyer, a former marine stationed with the embedded training team 28 in ganjgal valley afghanistan in 2009, braved an intensive complex ambush for more than six hours to recover the bodies of fellow marines, a navy corpsman and protect the lives of 46 us and afghan forces. Meyer is the secondyoungest living medal of honor recipient, the third living recipient for either the iraq war or the war in afghanistan and the first living u. Into the fire by dakota meyer and bing west is a first person point of view of the battle in ganjigal, afghanistan in 2009. President barack obama, from remarks given at meyers medal of. Jun 18, 20 dakota meyer was born and raised in columbia, kentucky, and enlisted in the united states marine corps in 2006.
It is extremely accurate except that it does not protray how alone he was due to a lot of factors and how utterly courageous and effective a marine that he is sergeant dakota l. President obama today awarded the medal of honor to dakota meyer, a former active duty marine corps corporal from kentucky. Into the fire audiobook by dakota meyer, bing west. Sep 15, 2011 president obama today awarded the medal of honor to dakota meyer, a former active duty marine corps corporal from kentucky. Oct 14, 20 in his memoir of the 2009 battle in afghanistan that brought him the medal of honor, marine sgt. Meyer is a united states marine corps veteran and is the first living marine since 1973 to receive the militarys highest honor, the medal of honor. Dakota meyer explains why he hates his medal of honor task. This is how marine dakota meyer saved 36 soldiers in afghanistan. May 02, 2012 medal of honor recipient sergeant dakota meyer usmc talks at the 2012 volgeneau luncheon, april 17, 2012, us naval academy, stockdale center for ethical leadership. Washington with dakota meyer standing at attention in his dress uniform, sweat glistening on his forehead under the television lights, president. He is the new york times bestselling author of the book. Ordered to remain behind with the vehicles, twentyone yearold marine corporal dakota meyer disobeyed orders and attacked to rescue his comrades. Below is the citation for sergeant dakota meyer at the time of action, he was a corporal. In the case of sergeant dakota meyer, united states marine corps, the story of combat he and a small group of fellow personnel experienced in.
Dakota meyer, the newest medal of honor recipient, joins a select company of americans. A veteran of the war in afghanistan, he was awarded the medal of honor for his actions during the battle of ganjgal on 8 september 2009, in kunar province, afghanistan. Dec 06, 2011 this is what happened to dakota meyer when he was deployed as a marine in afghanistan, and what he did about it. Dakota meyer was born on june 26, 1988 in columbia, kentucky, usa as dakota louis meyer. Marines promoted inflated story for medal of honor. Meyer is the secondyoungest living medal of honor recipient, th. While he has said he is a failure for not saving four of his teammates that day, meyer saved 36 men in sept. Sergeant meyer was recognized for his courageous actions at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving in kunar province, afghanistan, on september 8, 2009. In his memoir of the 2009 battle in afghanistan that brought him the medal of honor, marine sgt. A schooltrained sniper and highly skilled infantryman, corporal meyer deployed to iraq in 2007 and to afghanistan in 2009.
I want to extend in particular a warm welcome to your family, your father, and your grandparents. He was presented with such a prestigious honor for his bravery at the 2009 battle of ganjgal by the thenpresident of america barack obama. This is dakota meyers story and other characters are secondary to him. Marine corps birthday ball in kabul because he criticized president obama. For going above and beyond the call of duty, marine sgt. Medal of honor recipient dakota meyer tells his story newsmax. Medal of honor recipient sergeant dakota meyer usmc talks at the 2012 volgeneau luncheon, april 17, 2012, us naval academy, stockdale center for ethical leadership. Dakota meyer tells his story of the events which led to his galiant bravery, as well as the loss of his friends and team members. That day he saved 36 guys under heavy taliban fire. Oct 12, 2012 according to dakota meyers citation for the medal of honor, he was recognized, 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 28, regional corps advisory command 37, in kunar province, afghanistan, on 8 september 2009. Books by dakota meyer all formats kindle edition audible audiobook paperback hardcover see more sort by. For his actions on that day, meyer became the first living marine in three decades to be awarded the medal of honor.
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