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Obama not backing down on Medal of Honor award to Marine
U.S. President Barack Obama AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain
President Barack Obama is standing by his award of the Medal of Honor to a Marine in the Afghanistan war despite a published report Thursday charging exaggerations of the battle.
Obama presented the award to Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer three months ago, calling him the “best of a generation” that joined the military after 9/11. He described the day in 2009 when Meyer braved enemy fire in eastern Afghanistan to save U.S. and Afghan comrades.
McClatchy Newspapers reported that its review of documents turned up numerous “untrue, unsubstantiated or exaggerated” assertions about the firefight. The report by a McClatchy correspondent who was embedded with the military and witnessed the Sept. 8, 2009, battle, based the story on analysis of dozens of military documents, including sworn statements by Meyer and others involved.
The story also said Meyer displayed heroism that day and deserves the award.
Obama spokesman Jay Carney said the president “remains very proud” of Meyer and his “remarkable acts of bravery.”
Meyer, a native of Green County, Ky., could not be reached for comment Thursday. He said on his Twitter page that he has received an outpouring of support since the report was published. He posted a picture of the front page of a newspaper that prominently displayed the story.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for the support people on Twitter and other Americans are showing me. So Thank You all,” Meyer tweeted.
A friend of Meyer’s who attended the Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House on September 15 said Meyer was frustrated by the report because he has used the medal to draw attention to fallen and wounded Marines and soldiers.
“He’s been very clear in almost every interview, he didn’t ask for this. But he now has learned that it’s his responsibility,” said Chris Schmidt, of Columbia, Ky.
Meyer’s grandfather, Dwight Meyer, said he hadn’t seen the story and didn’t know what it was about.
“Dakota just doesn’t talk about the battle, because he’s had so much on his mind about it, because it’s affected him tremendously,” Dwight Meyer said.
