[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 137 (Thursday, September 15, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT DAKOTA MEYER

  Mr. McCONNELL. In a ceremony at the White House this afternoon, SGT 
Dakota Meyer of the U.S. Marine Corps will become the first living 
Marine recipient of the Medal of Honor, our Nation's highest award for 
valor, the first recipient in 41 years.
  The Medal of Honor is awarded for conspicuous gallantry and bravery 
at the risk of one's own life, above and beyond the call of duty.
  Every American can be proud of Sergeant Meyer, age 23, for his 
exceptional valor in combat in Afghanistan. I am particularly proud 
that Sergeant Meyer is a Kentuckian. I am honored that heroes like him 
come from the Bluegrass State. Sergeant Meyer hails from Columbia, KY, 
and is a 2006 graduate of Green County High School where he played on 
the football team. On September 8, 2009, his unit assignment was with 
Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7, 
operating in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. That day he was sent to aid a 
group of marines, soldiers, and Afghans trapped under heavy enemy fire 
from three different sides. ``We're surrounded,'' one of them broadcast 
over the radio. ``They're moving in on us.''
  Air support to assist the Marines was unavailable, as the fighting 
was too fierce for helicopters to land. Then-Corporal Meyer requested 
permission to enter the zone of fire to come to their aid four times, 
and four times his request was denied. After four denials he decided to 
go anyway, in an armored vehicle mounted with a .50-caliber machine gun 
with one other marine as a driver. Twice they attempted to reach their 
comrades and twice were forced back by bullets, rocket-propelled 
grenades, and mortars. A bullet hit the vehicle's gun turret, striking 
Corporal Meyer's elbow with shrapnel. Ignoring his injury, he left the 
vehicle and charged ahead alone to rescue his fellow fighters. Under 
intense enemy fire, he reached a trench where helicopter pilots had 
reported their position. There he found his three fellow marines and a 
Navy hospital corpsman all dead from gunshot wounds. Still under fire, 
Corporal Meyer carried their bodies back to a humvee with the help of 
Afghan troops and escorted them to a forward-operating base about 1 
mile away. He was determined to fulfill the Marines' credo, to never 
leave a marine behind. Corporal Meyer and the three marines whom he 
refused to abandon all knew each other well and worked together in the 
same four-man training team. He considered them close friends.

  In addition to the four Americans Corporal Meyer pulled out of the 
firefight, a U.S. Army soldier and at least eight Afghan troops plus an 
Afghan interpreter were killed in the attack. They had faced more than 
50 enemy insurgents armed with machine guns, assault rifles, and 
rocket-propelled grenades during a 6-hour firefight.
  Now a sergeant, Meyer combines his great heroism with great humility. 
He said:

       This isn't about me. If anything comes out of it for me, 
     it's for those guys.

  He left Active-Duty service in June 2010 and currently serves in the 
Inactive Ready Reserve of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
  I know my colleagues join me in saluting SGT Dakota Meyer for his 
extraordinary display of selfless valor, for which he will be awarded 
the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony this afternoon. He may not 
think of himself as a hero, but his country certainly does. His heroism 
and meritorious service has already been recognized in the many awards, 
medals, and decorations he has received, including the Purple Heart 
Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with ``V'' Device 
for valor, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Good 
Conduct Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.
  His fellow Kentuckians and an entire grateful Nation thank him for 
his service. Brave men and women like him honor us and our country and 
make us proud that America boasts the finest Armed Forces in the world.

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