WASHINGTON (AP) – Dakota Meyer, a Marine awarded the Medal of Honor for his acts of heroism in the Afghanistan War, has recently reenlisted in the military, planning to serve in the Marine Reserves. Meyer, who gained recognition for his bravery during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, has expressed his desire to return to military service after being out of uniform for 15 years, stating that he felt he “had more to give.”
During a briefing with reporters before the oath-taking ceremony at the Pentagon, Meyer emphasized his commitment to refrain from engaging in political matters while serving in uniform. He stated, “The great part about being in the reserves is I’m still a citizen when I’m not on orders. When I’m on orders I’ll comply obviously with whatever the standard is.” His oath was administered by Pete Hegseth, who served as Secretary of Defense under President Donald Trump and shares a close relationship with Meyer.
Meyer was awarded the Medal of Honor, the military’s highest distinction, by then-President Barack Obama on September 15, 2011. This accolade was in recognition of his daring actions in Afghanistan, where he repeatedly charged into intense gunfire to rescue fellow Marines and Afghan comrades who were under heavy attack by Taliban fighters. The significant event occurred on September 8, 2009, during a security mission in the Ganjgal Valley. A sudden ambush by roughly 50 Taliban insurgents led to a prolonged six-hour firefight, during which Meyer’s valiant efforts saved 36 lives and resulted in him eliminating at least eight enemy combatants.
During the ambush, four American soldiers lost their lives: 1st Lt. Michael Johnson, 25, from Virginia Beach, Virginia; Staff Sgt. Aaron Kenefick, 30, of Roswell, Georgia; Corpsman James Layton, 22, of Riverbank, California; and Edwin Wayne Johnson Jr., a 31-year-old gunnery sergeant from Columbus, Georgia. A fifth soldier, Army Sgt. Kenneth W. Westbrook, 41, from Shiprock, New Mexico, succumbed to his injuries later.
After concluding his military service, Meyer remained prominently in the public eye. In 2016, he married Bristol Palin, the daughter of former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, and together they have two children. Meyer has also been vocal about other military figures facing consequences for their public critiques of the U.S. government. Notably, he has defended Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, who faced legal repercussions for publicly criticizing the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan while still in uniform, which contravened military conduct regulations.
Meyer’s return to service in the Marine Reserves signals a commitment to military duty amidst a backdrop of intense political discourse regarding the U.S. military's actions abroad, particularly related to the withdrawal from Afghanistan. While he has been a critic of the current administration, Meyer’s focus remains on his role as a Marine, underscoring the balance between civilian rights and military obligations.
