Setting the record straight on Dakota Meyer, Medal of Honor recipient-to-be
July 26th, 2011 | Awards Ganjgal Leadership | Posted by Dan Lamothe
Dakota Meyer, photographed at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., in November. (Photo by Rob Curtis/Staff)
With the dust starting to settle, it’s time to set the record straight about Dakota Meyer, who will become the first living Marine to receive the Medal of Honor in decades.
As someone who has covered the fallout of the Sept. 8, 2009, ambush in Gangjal, Afghanistan, since days after it occurred, I’ve noticed a variety of inaccuracies work their way into stories about the incident, Meyer’s service and the Medal of Honor process. Many of them cite my story last week that confirmed the award decision had been made, so it seems fair for to correct the record.
Let’s look at a few inaccuracies:
Meyer will be the first living Marine in 41 years to receive the Medal of Honor.
That’s a falsehood, and since it was reported by the Associated Press, it has been appeared in dozens, if not hundreds, of news accounts.
I reported last week that Meyer would be the first living Marine recipient of the award since now-retired Sgt. Maj. Allan Kellogg received the medal for actions for 41 years ago in Vietnam. I assume that’s where the 41-year figure comes from, but there’s nuance there that can’t be left out.
It’s true that Kellogg was honored for valor 41 years ago on March 11, 1970, but he received the medal from President Nixon at the White House on Oct 15, 1973. That means it has been about 38 years since the last living recipient received the Medal of Honor.
Meyer acted as a sniper in the battle.
Meyer was an infantry rifleman in the Corps, and trained as scout sniper, too. During the Battle of Ganjgal, however, he was serving as a member of an embedded training team, and never functioned as a sniper. There were snipers providing overwatch during the battle, but they were with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division, out of Fort Drum, N.Y.
On a related note, some media accounts said Meyer was in Afghanistan at the time with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines. As Marine Corps Times previously reported, Meyer was with 3/3 before his deployment in 2009, but volunteered for the training team assignment instead of deploying to Iraq for a second time.
Meyer currently lives in Austin, Texas.
I’ll take the heat for this one. In Marine Corps Times’ initial story posted last week, I reported that Meyer lived in Austin. Meyer shared that detail with me in April, but subsequently moved back to his hometown of Greensburg, Ky., a few months later. He couldn’t be reached for comment last week, but I have subsequently verified and corrected our initial story. The first report led to confusion for some Texas news outlets.
Meyer was a sergeant in the battle.
Some media outlets have reported that Meyer was a sergeant in the battle, while others say he was a corporal.
The truth is, he was a corporal at the time, and left active-duty service as one in June 2010. He has subsequently been promoted to sergeant while in the Individual Ready Reserve, an organization in which Marines can be called back to active-duty service, but rarely are. He wore sergeant’s stripes at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball last year.
Tags: Cpl. Dakota Meyer, Dakota Meyer, Medal of Honor
Comments
-
Lennox Barton Says:
August 21st, 2011 at 6:25 pmGreat report on giving us the correct facts. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Semper Fi
Retired MSgt. Barton -
Bluto Says:
September 1st, 2011 at 11:22 amMarines can be a strange bunch when it comes to facts, just ask my wife. Good Job
Semper Fi
Cpl Bluto -
Keith Rearick Says:
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:40 amTo all you fine young men serving in our military, I salute and thank you for your service. President Reagan said, “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world, but the U.S. Armed Forces don’t have that problem.” Sgt. Meyer is like all true heroes. He doesn’t look at what he did as anything more than his buddies would have done and the truly heroic are the ones not coming back. Sgt. Meyer, I’m glad there are heroes like you that make this 62 year old man shed a tear for being proud for what you did. Semper Fi.
-
Anton Zurbrugg Says:
September 14th, 2011 at 7:38 pmIt has been stated in the media that Sgt. Meyer “retired” from the Marine Corps. Is that correct? Don’t believe he served the minimum 20 years. Please clarify. Thanks.
-
David T Pike Says:
September 14th, 2011 at 8:11 pmWhy do most of the story’s about this say he retired from the Marine Corps? Last time I heard you can’t retire until you put in 20 years or are medically retired. Was he medically retired?
How many years active did he put in? 4? -
David T Pike Says:
September 14th, 2011 at 8:13 pmOOPS! Sorry Anton! Your post wasn’t there when I wrote mine… Great minds think alike? LOL!
-
Rick Says:
September 14th, 2011 at 9:18 pmIt is always good to make sure that any journalism is accurate. It should also be checked for spelling and grammar. You might want to correct this one: “so it seems fair for to correct the record.”
Thanks for the information.
-
Tommy Sands USMC/USAF (Ret) Says:
September 15th, 2011 at 2:51 amHe was born in 1986, no way did he retire from the Marines.
Still, Good Job Marine!
Semper Fi -
A Marine is awarded the Medal of Honor « My Strong Medicine Says:
September 15th, 2011 at 7:15 am[...] born in 1986, retired from the Marines in June 2010, and now lives in [...]
-
msgt (ret) miller Says:
September 15th, 2011 at 8:30 amMy congratulations to Marine Sgt. Meyer, absolutely job well done. I, being a combat veteran of ‘nam highly respects my miliitary . In adding to this story, the Army times says that army cpt.Wm. Swenson made every step with sgt. Meyer and is getting nothing in recognition for his efforts.
possiability reason that Cpt. Swenson was critical of higher ups for not supportig the mission when the team was attacked.and , now as a result the U.S, Army has lost a great leader.as well the corps has lost a great Marine.
when the POS’s that we have for leaders in congress (97% has never served)that constrains our military as in this situation leaves the political correctiveness as was reported in Somalia with then POTUSA (Draft dodger) bill clinton caused Rangers to die, gets out of the way and let’s our men serve, the usa will be better off.I better stop, you get the message,
old sarge Miller’nam vet/lrrp/abn -
Ernie Says:
September 15th, 2011 at 8:39 amBRAVO! All of our military people are heroes, thank you so much for serving. Every day of FREEDOM is America’s reward. Stay safe and God Bless!
-
Marilyn D'Elia Says:
September 15th, 2011 at 8:55 amYou are a HERO in every sense of the WORD!!!! I thank God for Marines like you everyday. Semper Fi!!!!!
-
Once in a Blue Moon Says:
September 15th, 2011 at 2:48 pmI understand today that then Cpl. Meyer, together with his driver, (Chavez, sorry, rank unknown, returned more than five times in six hours of engaging insugents rescued more than 36 soldiers, about 2 dozen of whom were Afghan soldiers, and the others being Marines. These rescues were in addition to bring back 4 men from his unit who did not survive. Thank you, sir.
-
Marine2d Says:
September 15th, 2011 at 3:04 pmI belive that Woodrow (woody) Walker of WV. was awarded the Medal of Honor in WW2 which would make him the oldest living Marine that has the medal.
-
Robert Says:
September 15th, 2011 at 7:20 pmWould I be out of line, asking to know more about, who and how all of them were sent into an ambush? I know an ambush is always a possibilty. More than that, why in the heell, were they denied air support or back up. I’m not military, but, what were the commanders, really thinking .
-
john killingsworth Says:
September 17th, 2011 at 1:12 amI have no idea how this guy can even walk with that big of balls. What the hell is he going back to some menial construction job anyway when he has proven that he has more of what the marines worship than most could dream of. FIND THIS GUY A JOB TRAINING MARINES, get him the best training for leadership and keep him out of the action. He has shown he needs to be showing other marines how to be what all real men would hope and pray to be in a dangerous situation.
-
Deck Box,Deck Boxes,Outdoor Storage Box Says:
October 23rd, 2011 at 9:44 amHelpful info. Fortunate me I discovered your site by accident, and I’m shocked why this twist of fate didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.