08SEPT2009: Serving as a part of an embedded training team in Afghanistan, Cpl. Dakota Meyer was tasked with maintaining security by a rally point as other members of his team pushed into a village named Ganjgal. Expecting to meet with village elders, the element of US and Afghan forces quickly came under intense enemy fire from an estimated 50 Taliban fighters. Hearing that the US team was cut off, Meyer and another Marine took off in a vehicle to assist. As their vehicle drew fire, Meyer manned the machine gun and hammered enemy positions despite rounds impacting all around him. Each trip into the fight, Meyer identified and helped evacuate groups of wounded or trapped Afghan soldiers. During these movements, he was in constant contact with the enemy, engaging some at point blank range. After the vehicle took too much damage to return, Meyer swapped for a new truck and went back into the fight two more times. Having already been wounded in the army, Meyer dismounted the vehicle near where he expected his cut off Marines to be. As he neared the position, he spotted a Taliban fighter attempting to drag the bodies away. After killing that fighter, Meyer began the recovery of his four fallen brothers. For saving the lives of so many Afghan and American warriors during that six hour fight, Cpl Dakota Meyer would be awarded the Medal of Honor.

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