Dakota Meyer, United States Marine

Congressional Medal of Honor:

Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer consented to press interviews so people would know the story of the teammates who didn't survive the ambush in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.

The men Meyer wants the world to remember are Lt. Michael Johnson, Staff Sgt. Aaron Kenefick, Gunnery Sgt Edwin Johnson and Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class James Layton.

At his request, they will be memorialized at hometown ceremonies while he is awarded the nation's highest honor for bravery during a White House ceremony Thursday with [the person currently occupying the Oval Office].

"Those guys gave their lives so you have to remind (the public) everyday. You know, that's the least you can do,” said Meyer, who killed eight Taliban fighters, some at close range.

But Meyer, who spoke with reporters recently at his grandfather Dwight Meyer's farm, does not particularly care for the limelight, Lt.. Col. Chris Hughes, who coordinated media requests, warned all of the reporters coming and going from the interviews.

"If you ask a stupid question, Dakota will let you know," Hughes said.

Good man -- which can be said of every man who has ever received the Congressional Medal of Honor. A piece of advice for all you civvies (and especially reporters): you never congratulate a CMH recipient; you salute them and keep your teeth together. The CMH is an award that the people who receive it wish to God they didn't have, because of what was endured to get it:

A team of U.S. Army and Marine trainers were accompanying a battalion of Afghan soldiers into Ganjgal. The mountains erupted in a hail of gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades. Skilled and equipped Taliban fighters had formed a U-shaped ambush around both the U.S. and Afghan troops.

Meyer, a corporal at the time, was toward the rear in a Humvee equipped with a Mark-19 grenade launcher. Staff Sgt. Juan Rodriguez-Chavez was driving. They radioed a request for air support. When the air support didn't come, they requested permission to join the fight. The request was denied -- diving into an ambush seemed like suicide.

"We knew what we had to do. So we just decided we were going to go in there on our own," Meyer said. "We were either going to go in there or we are going to die trying ... that's your brothers in there."

They drove into the center of the ambush rescuing Afghan troops and providing cover so U.S. forces could escape. The record shows that dozens of people, U.S. and Afghan, now owe their lives to the actions of Meyer and Chavez.

They returned to the valley five times looking for members of Meyer's team. Their truck was damaged so they swapped it for one with a more effective 50-caliber machine gun mounted on top.

When Meyer and Chavez finally found their comrades, they had all been killed.

"That's the worst feeling ever. You know, I went over to bring those guys out alive. That was my mission and I didn't bring them out alive. So, I failed," Meyer said.

Thank whatever gods you believe in that such men exist, and that they stand between your family and harm.

Semper Fidelis and a crisp salute to Dakota Meyer.


__
Hat-tip to Kirk M.