Marine Who Won Medal of Honor Fights Allegations He is Mentally Unstable

ABC News ^ | 11/29/11 | OLIVIA KATRANDJIAN

[DFG]

In September, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's most prestigious military award, to Sgt. Dakota Meyer, the marine who saved 36 of his comrades during an ambush in Afghanistan.

Obama called Meyer one of the most "down-to-earth guys that you will ever meet."

But today Meyer, 23, is having trouble getting a job because of allegations by defense contractor BAE Systems that he has a drinking problem and is mentally unstable. Meyer filed legal papers Monday claiming the allegations were in retaliation for objections he raised about BAE's alleged decision to sell high-tech sniper scopes to the Pakistani military.

[Red_Devil 232]

I thought he was trying to be NYC Fireman.

[mountainlion]

Did this “writer” OLIVIA KATRANDJIAN, win her job because she was female? She has no idea how the military awards medals.

[Red_Devil 232]

The only drinking problem he has is having a brew with obozo!

[MeganC]

The unasked question: Why, exactly, are we selling the most advanced sniper scope in the world to Pakistan so they can turn around and give it to China and the Taliban?

[Pat4ever]

I’d contribute to his legal defense fund. Semper Fi and thank you, Marine!

[ex-snook]

“The unasked question: Why, exactly, are we selling the most advanced sniper scope in the world to Pakistan so they can turn around and give it to China and the Taliban?”

---

It’s called ‘free trade’ by the free traitors.

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Gee what's the big deal?

After all, if these advanced technologically superior scopes end up in the hands of the Tally-Ban and used against our Warriors, who should care?

Shirley not the FAR Left (Commie?) Loons at Foggy Bottom. Most assuredly not the neo-Commie, (Islamic) Appeaser in Chief. And apparently (based upon their silene) the Chair Warmers and REMF, PC, Chicken-Hawk wusses in the Pentagon.

I guess that would only leave our Military who could be put in a position of being in the "cross hairs" of those who want to kill them.

Nuttin' to see here; just move along!

This War (oops, "Overseas Military Contingency") has degenerated into an (political) exercise in futility, thus it's time to bring them ALL home and sooner, rather than later as it is not worth the lost of even ONE more of our Brave Troops.

[NY Attitude]

First off, I would like to thank Sgt. Dakota Meyer for his heroism and his service to this country. Was Sgt. Dakota Meyer sure that the deal with Pakistan was not in compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulation? If not, the fines to be faced by BAE could be very high.

[exDemMom]

I hate to say it, but given his background, he certainly could have some mental issues. It is not uncommon for people who experience horrific things in combat zones to develop combat stress reaction (formerly “shell shock”) or PTSD. I wonder if he has been evaluated and treated?

[NY Attitude]

First off, I would like to thank Sgt. Dakota Meyer for his heroism and his service to this country. Was Sgt. Dakota Meyer sure that the deal with Pakistan was not in compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulation? If not, the fines to be faced by BAE could be very high.

[Jack Hydrazine]

I bet he’s one of the guys who does the voices for the Action Figure Therapy videos on GoogTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIylwth99Wg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a3S1CIo3Qw

(warning: bad language)

[joe fonebone]

hate to be blunt........ alcohol knows no bounds, rich, poor, short, tall, CMOH winner, or serial killer.............

[Future Snake Eater]

I can’t speak to the Marine Corps, but I can tell you that the Army has multiple screening processes for returning vets. I’ve lost count of the number of social worker/psychologists I’ve talked to upon redeploying, and there wasn’t even anything wrong with me!

Regardless, it’s good that the Army does these things to catch the actual at-risk guys. Hopefully the Marines do the same thing.

[Eska]

My nephew was showing me his lazer that works with his night vision a few months back. He's in the military, gets sent to Afghan for a few months every year. Gear came from a company called Warrior Systems and is restricted; average US citizen can't buy it for any price.

So I, a vet myself can't buy it but the Pak Muslims can? Something ain't right?

[DustyMoment]

Between Sgt. Meyer and BAE Systems . . . . . I’ll take Sgt. Meyer’s word.

[Recon Dad]

The Medal of Honor is bestowed upon an individual by the passing of a Joint Resolution in the Congress[not verified in body]. It is then presented to the recipient or, for posthumous awards, to next of kin. The President of the United States presents the medal in person, on behalf of the Congress,

The military puts someone up for the award but does not make the award.

[PiperShade]

Makes me wonder what the gentleman discovered during the course of his employ with BAE ! >PS

[exDemMom]

I’m speaking from an Army background myself, having taken training on how to recognize various combat injuries. I don’t know about the other services, but I assume they have similar programs.

I had an NCO who told me he had PTSD. He could not walk into a crowd without feeling very paranoid.

[Nebr FAL owner]

So a Marine sergeant who is awarded the Medal of Honor thinks selling some of the most sophisticated optical weapons sights to the Pakistanis is a bad idea.

The sergeant then states it publicly & you think that is evidence that he is as nutty as a squirrel turd?

I don’t buy it I smell a smear job by a weapons industry powerhouse trying to silence a critic.

[mountainlion]

I was belittling the writer for “Marine Who Won medal. Does she thing people win them in poker games or something?

[Lancey Howard]

This moron, OLIVIA KATRANDJIAN, doesn’t even know that the traditional way to spell “Marine” as it pertains to a member of the US Marine Corps is with a capital “M”.

[csmusaret]

And if he “won” did the other few thousand Marines in country at the time “lose”?

[exDemMom]

So a Marine sergeant who is awarded the Medal of Honor thinks selling some of the most sophisticated optical weapons sights to the Pakistanis is a bad idea.

The sergeant then states it publicly & you think that is evidence that he is as nutty as a squirrel turd?

I don’t buy it I smell a smear job by a weapons industry powerhouse trying to silence a critic.

I did not address the allegation that this company is selling weapons to Pakistan.

I was specifically addressing the company's stated reasons for not hiring the Marine. These happen to be consistent with a combat-related stress disorder, which is highly believable, given the Marine's background. I am an Army officer; I am trained to look for symptoms of combat injuries (physical and mental), and have encountered Soldiers who suffer from them.

Please keep in mind that I am in no way denigrating the Marine nor belittling his actions that led to his Medal of Honor award. I am concerned that perhaps he needs medical attention.

[mountainlion]

Her last name looks kinda arab anyway.

[NY Attitude]

It is amazing what military / defense equipment the US State Department allows to pass to foreign governments. This could not happen without the State Department’s blessings.

[NY Attitude]

It appears to be Armenian.

[NY Attitude]

I agree.

[huldah1776]

Dakota Meyer is still in “saving lives” mode. He reacts as he sees fit. From the article at foxnews.com

“Meyer wrote that it was “disturbing” how U.S. troops were being issued outdated equipment when better, advanced thermal optic scopes were being offered to Pakistan.”

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/30/decorated-marine-suing-contractor-is-not-drinker-grandmother-says/#content#ixzz1fChE9mtv

I was just thinking about the same thing this morning while contemplating the list of supplies parents put together for their sons on the front lines. Why, WHY, do politicians allow our military to fight anywhere without the best equipment and it should ONLY be made in America. PERIOD.

Meyer’s reaction is the same as mine, and I do not have PTS. I am a Marine Mom. As to weather he drinks. Do Marines know how to use a rifle?

[Bedford Forrest]

I had an NCO who told me he had PTSD. He could not walk into a crowd without feeling very paranoid.

Wow! And what would you conclude about someone who, in a restaurant, always sits back to a wall with the entire room in view? Surely you understand that what libs call paranoid others call prudent. And just because you are paranoid doesn't mean nobody is trying to get you. Always check six, baby, it's the only way to go.

[M Kehoe]

Good morning.

I have a question(s)...

...for objections he raised about BAE's alleged decision to sell high-tech sniper scopes to the Pakistani military.

Didn't bill clinton move the approval process for selling sensitive material/computers/technologies etc. from the State Dept to the Commerce Dept? Didn't bill clinton allow Loral and others to sell computers/material/technologies to the Chicoms?

Now the Chicoms are in space.

Indeed Nikita, we may bury ourselves sooner than you thought.

5.56mm

[old curmudgeon]

Read this and it will give you some idea of what is going on.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2968543/posts

[Justa]

Oh, so the Marine who is an Afghanistan veteran and MOH recipient who objected to BAE selling sophisticated night vision weapon sights to Pakistan which trains and equips the Taliban should be medicated?

A 2-minute risk assessment of crowds produces a red outcome for many situations. Perhaps in your analysis shopping is considered a circle-X objective?

I’ve got news for you: just about everyone who has spent time in a combat zone is aprehensive of crowds. Yet this is something exceptional to you? FYI crowds have been referred to as Mortar Magnets since before the Civil War. Whether in war or psycho-infested societies crowds are the target of murderers.

Reasoning based upon experience, risk and acceptable outcome used to qualify as sound judgement.

[M Kehoe]

Thanks. Very interesting article. Especially since I've spent some time in Turkey, and have had exposure to the U.S. Turkish relationship on several levels.

5.56mm

[exDemMom]

This is so very strange, receiving two responses to a post I made over a year ago. I had to go back and re-read the thread.

Wow! And what would you conclude about someone who, in a restaurant, always sits back to a wall with the entire room in view? Surely you understand that what libs call paranoid others call prudent.

Under normal circumstances, in a small town, I'd consider that behavior a bit strange. Along the border where drug lords rule, that behavior might be prudent. The appropriateness of such behavior is situational.

[exDemMom]

What happened, that caused my post to receive two replies over a year after the original thread?

Oh, so the Marine who is an Afghanistan veteran and MOH recipient who objected to BAE selling sophisticated night vision weapon sights to Pakistan which trains and equips the Taliban should be medicated?

I did not say the Marine should be medicated. What I said is that it is very possible that what the company said--that his perception has been skewed--is correct.

Do I know that this company is making weapon sights for sale to the Taliban? No.

Do I know that the Marine is having problems with alcohol, which could very well be a consequence of untreated PTSD? No.

But what I do know is that there is a truth somewhere, which probably does not correspond exactly to the stories of either side. And, most likely, the stories on each side both contain elements of the truth.

Being paranoid of all crowds, regardless of circumstances, is not normal behavior. But there are times when it is perfectly appropriate to be wary. It is all circumstancial.