Every Day Hero

Medal of Honor recipient Marine Corps Sgt. Dakota L. Meyer stands next to a plaque bearing his name after he was inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes during a ceremony in the Pentagon, Sept. 16, 2011. DOD photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey (For a photo essay of the MoH ceremony, go here)





Meyer Inducted Into Pentagon Hall of Heroes

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2011 – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta inducted Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Dakota L. Meyer into Pentagon Hall of Heroes today, holding him up as an example of courage, selfless service and the Corps’ motto, “Always Faithful.”

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Speaking to a standing-room-only crowd in the Pentagon Auditorium, Panetta joined Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James F. Amos in honoring Meyer as the 3,475th member of the prestigious Pentagon Hall of Heroes.

Meyer became the first living Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for operations in Afghanistan, where he repeatedly returned in the face of heavy enemy fire to save his Marine, soldier and Afghan comrades and retrieve the bodies of those killed.

President Barack Obama presented Meyer the highest military honor yesterday during a White House ceremony.

Today, Panetta recognized “the incredible valor and the uncommon fearlessness” Meyer demonstrated, disregarding his own safety to charge the enemy kill zone “again and again and again” to search for his comrades and friends.

His actions saved 13 U.S. Marines and soldiers and 23 Afghan soldiers and police, Mabus noted.

Meyer “truly went above the call of duty,” Panetta said....

Much more here.

Thank you for your service, Sgt Meyer.