[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 137 (Thursday, September 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING DAKOTA MEYER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ED WHITFIELD

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 15, 2011

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, the small community of Columbia in south 
central Kentucky is not unlike many of the rural areas of America that 
have given of their best young men and women to guarantee our freedom. 
As of today, however, Columbia has the distinction of being the 
birthplace of Dakota Meyer, only the third living recipient and the 
first Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq and 
Afghanistan.
  Today, President Barack Obama will award Dakota Meyer the Medal of 
Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life 
above and beyond the call of duty. He will receive the Medal of Honor 
for his courageous actions while serving as a member of Marine Embedded 
Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7, in Kunar 
Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He and 
his family will join the President at the White House to commemorate 
his example of selfless service.
  The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who 
distinguish themselves with meritorious conduct involving great 
personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly 
distinguish the individual above his or her comrades, and the action 
must have involved risk of life. There must be incontestable proof of 
the performance of the meritorious conduct, and each recommendation for 
the award must be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit.
  On September 8, 2009 an Afghan battalion was set to go to a village 
in the Ganjgal Valley. According to the plan, Meyer was to stay with 
the vehicles near the mouth of the valley and the Afghan soldiers and 
their U.S. advisers would walk into the village from there. But as the 
lead of the column approached the village more than 50 insurgents fired 
from positions on mountains surrounding the valley and from within the 
village. The troops were trapped.
  Back at the vehicles, Meyer heard the firing. When requests for 
airstrikes and permission to drive into the valley were repeatedly 
denied, Meyer set himself in the turret of a Humvee and rode straight 
into the firefight, taking fire from all directions. He went in not 
once, but five times, trying to rescue his comrades and taking to foot 
in an effort to locate his team. During about six hours of chaotic 
fighting, he took out eight Taliban militants and provided cover for 
Afghan and U.S. servicemen to escape the ambush, according to a Marine 
Corps account of the events. Meyer saved the lives of 13 U.S. troops 
and 23 Afghan soldiers.
  I join Dakota Meyer's hometown of Columbia, Kentucky in pride as they 
celebrate this rare distinction for their native son. Meyer joins the 
ranks of a small company, who in the face of adversity rise to the 
occasion and do what needs to be done regardless of the consequences. 
His heroic actions reflect the values taught and practiced in small 
communities throughout the heart of America.

                          ____________________