M14 Forum

nicholst55 · July 19th, 2011, 07:22 PM

Former Corporal Dakota Meyer will be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in eastern Afghanistan in September, 2009. CPL Meyer repeatedly braved enemy fire attempting to locate and save members of his embedded training team. Meyer is only the second Marine to receive the MOH during the current war, and the first living Marine recipient since the Vietnam War.

Watch the video at the link, and I bet y'all will be struck by this man's humility. That seems to be a common thread with MOH recipients.

Semper Fi, Marine.

tmcfalls · July 20th, 2011, 05:32 AM

Doesn't Congress approve the MOH and the President just presents it? I would have thought that a writer for the Armytimes would know that.

rscalzo · July 20th, 2011, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Doesn't Congress approve the MOH

Just what I was thinking. But still not that clear who makes the final call on the approval.

Quote:

§ 3741. Medal of honor: award

How Current is This?

The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who while a member of the Army, distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty—

(1) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

(2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or

(3) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. .

rscalzo · July 20th, 2011, 06:23 AM

Accoring to the law cited above, it sounds like the President does make the actual approval.

lawnchair 04 · July 20th, 2011, 08:00 AM

That kid deserves it. i read his story months back, its absolutely incredible to have men like that defending our country. It makes me extremely proud to say i served in the same Corp as guys like that

Tenfeathers · July 20th, 2011, 08:57 AM

With the way kids act now a days , it just reinforce's my since of pride in our military guys all very heroic for just being there.

CPTKILLER · July 20th, 2011, 09:15 AM

It angers me when anyone brings political rhetoric into this. This isn't about Obama, it is about CPL Meyer. Let's be proud of a tough job that he did.

This young man is a hero in my eyes. He is head & shoulders better than 99% of the folks in his generation. Unlike many of us & them, he can look back and say that he did something special for our country.

Jason0839 · July 20th, 2011, 11:33 AM

To read his story is amazing, he continued to put himself at risk for hours as the Army COC argued about providing air or Arty. He put himself at grave risk countless times. He went through three different vehicles and returned to the ambush site at least six times pulling out injured Marines and Afghans. This is the same event that saw the Marines awarded the Navy Cross a few weeks ago. The SSgt was the driver that was driving back and forth with the Cpl while he manned the Mk19, M2, and 240. Its a sad thing that the Corps hasnt benefited from him longer.

tmcfalls · July 20th, 2011, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tenfeathers

With the way kids act now a days , it just reinforce's my since of pride in our military guys all very heroic for just being there.

Given the fact that there are droves of young people answering Uncle Sam's call each year despite a two front war going on for over a decade, I would have to say today's youth are every bit as good as any other generation.

I think this young man from rural Kentucky helps drive that point home even harder.

rscalzo · July 20th, 2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

I would have to say today's youth are every bit as good as any other generation.

I would agree. Thirty years in LE and kids have more energy then they know what to do with and sometimes it spills over. But the VAST majority are just fine and this is an example of one.