Dakota Meyer, the Medal of Honor recipient and former Marine, is returning to military service after 15 years. Meyer reenlisted this week and will be stationed in the US Marine Reserves. His choice comes on the heels of expressing criticism of the Biden administration’s pullout from Afghanistan.
Meyer justified his decision by stating, “I felt like I had more to give,” prior to his reenlistment ceremony, which was witnessed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In spite of his previous political remarks, Meyer made it clear that he would keep politics separate from his service: “When I’m on orders, I’ll comply obviously with whatever the standard is.”
Receiving widespread accolades for his valor in Afghanistan, Meyer was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Obama in 2011 for his selfless actions when he traveled into five enemy fires to retrieve wounded comrades in Ganjgal Valley in a 2009 ambush. Meyer’s act of heroism saved 36 lives while killing at least eight Taliban militants. But four American soldiers died in the ambush as well, and one succumbed to his injuries later.
After resigning from military duty in 2010, Meyer continued to be a public figure, such as through his marriage to Bristol Palin, Sarah Palin’s daughter. He has also been a vocal supporter of other troops, like Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, who was jailed for criticizing military command over the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
