Inspirations - Courage Under Fire

On September 8, 2009, a squad of United States Marines traveled to a small village in Afghanistan. Their mission was to provide training to Afghani military recruits in the ongoing war against terrorism. The marines traveled in under cover of night for security purposes, but it was all for naught. No sooner did the Marines enter the village, than the lights went out and gunfire erupted all around them. The soldiers were ambushed by more than 50 Taliban insurgents, and quickly pinned down.
Twenty-one-year-old Corporal Dakota Meyer, of Greensburg, Kentucky, was providing support and cover for the mission on the day of the ambush. When the call came in from the forward group reporting the dangerous situation, Meyer begged his commander to let him go into the hot zone to help his squad. Four times Meyer’s request was denied, until finally, Meyer and another Marine, StaffSergeant Juan Rodriguez-Chavez jumped into an armored Hum-vee and barreled into the fray, with Rodriguez-Chavez driving, and Meyer manning the gun turret. Five times the two brave men drove into the withering enemy gunfire, evacuating the American and Afghani soldiers. Meyer reportedly took down eight enemies in spite of receiving a shrapnel wound in his arm. On his final rescue trip, Meyer learned that four of his closest squad-mates had not survived, and another American soldier later died from his wounds, but a total of 36 men were saved.
Was there ever any question in Meyer’s mind as to what was the right thing to do? Not a bit. Meyer’s grandfather, Dwight Meyer, who also served with the Marines in the 1950’s, said that his grandson’s response to his denied request was, “The hell I’m not.” For his courage, Dakota Meyer was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Obama at a solemn White House ceremony on September 15, 2011, while Juan Rodriguez-Chavez received the Navy Cross.
It’s just one more example of God putting the right person in the right place at the right time, and giving him the conviction to do what he was put there to do. I can only imagine how it must hurt God to see how his children act and treat each other sometimes, but it’s truly amazing how He can still use these situations to make a point.
Dakota Meyer is a true hero in every sense of the word. In spite of the lives he saved, he still regrets those that he did not. Meyer is no longer in the service and was working at his construction job when President Obama called to speak to him. Meyer reportedly did not take the call because he was working. When President Obama and Meyer finally got together on the oval office patio for a beer, the President jokingly thanked him for taking the call.
I am very proud to say that my grandfather served with the Marines during world war 2, and I’m also very proud to see that the rich tradition and history of our armed forces continues today. To all of our service men and women, serving at home or abroad, we’re proud of you and God bless you.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” NIV

Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ESV