Concerning Corporal Dakota Meyer, I was just talking with one of my coworkers who is an amateur golfer (can't compete professionally because of a fused ankle, but he's extremely good) and he told me that the country club in Campbellsville, just a few miles from his hometown, has given Corporal Meyer, who is apparently a golfer, a lifetime membership and several companies have gifted him with a ton of gear. Sports Illustrated is going to have an article about Meyer and his love of golf in an upcoming issue and he will most likely be the master of ceremonies at the next major tournament at the Valhalla Golf Course in Louisville.
From what I've read and heard of Corporal Meyer, I'm not sure if he wants or would appreciate all of this attention. Like so many other Medal of Honor recipients, he doesn't believe that he deserves the Medal. I just hope and pray that some peace and solitude out on the back nine with family or friends can help him come to terms with the loss of his four comrades in arms.
Kudos to the Valhalla Golf Club...I'd like to see the Masters invite him to play next year..
That would presumably be Wilburn Kirby Ross.
Here's his citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty near St. Jacques, France. At 11:30 a.m. on 30 October 1944, after his company had lost 55 out of 88 men in an attack on an entrenched, full-strength German company of elite mountain troops, Pvt. Ross placed his light machinegun 10 yards in advance of the foremost supporting riflemen in order to absorb the initial impact of an enemy counterattack. With machinegun and small-arms fire striking the earth near him, he fired with deadly effect on the assaulting force and repelled it. Despite the hail of automatic fire and the explosion of rifle grenades within a stone's throw of his position, he continued to man his machinegun alone, holding off 6 more German attacks. When the eighth assault was launched, most of his supporting riflemen were out of ammunition. They took positions in echelon behind Pvt. Ross and crawled up, during the attack, to extract a few rounds of ammunition from his machinegun ammunition belt. Pvt. Ross fought on virtually without assistance and, despite the fact that enemy grenadiers crawled to within 4 yards of his position in an effort to kill him with handgrenades, he again directed accurate and deadly fire on the hostile force and hurled it back. After expending his last rounds, Pvt. Ross was advised to withdraw to the company command post, together with 8 surviving riflemen, but, as more ammunition was expected, he declined to do so. The Germans launched their last all-out attack, converging their fire on Pvt. Ross in a desperate attempt to destroy the machinegun which stood between them and a decisive breakthrough. As his supporting riflemen fixed bayonets for a last-ditch stand, fresh ammunition arrived and was brought to Pvt. Ross just as the advance assault elements were about to swarm over his position. He opened murderous fire on the oncoming enemy; killed 40 and wounded 10 of the attacking force; broke the assault single-handedly, and forced the Germans to withdraw. Having killed or wounded at least 58 Germans in more than 5 hours of continuous combat and saved the remnants of his company from destruction, Pvt. Ross remained at his post that night and the following day for a total of 36 hours. His actions throughout this engagement were an inspiration to his comrades and maintained the high traditions of the military service.