Marines promoted inflated story for Medal of Honor recipient (Barf Alert)

The Washington Post ^ | December 14, 2011 | McClatchy Newspapers

[World'sGoneInsane]

With Dakota Meyer standing at attention in his dress uniform, sweat glistening on his forehead under the television lights, President Barack Obama extolled the former Marine corporal for the “extraordinary actions” that had earned him the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor. SNIP

But an exhaustive assessment by a McClatchy correspondent who was embedded with the unit and survived the ambush found that the Marines’ official accounts of Meyer’s deeds....

[World'sGoneInsane]

Complete story at link. How dare we honor our heroes! /sarc

[World'sGoneInsane]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/dakota-meyer-took-heroic-action-comrades-say/2011/12/14/gIQAjD3zuO_story.html?wprss=rss_national-security

[Spirochete]

But an exhaustive assessment by a McClatchy correspondent who was embedded with the unit ...

Read no further than that. I'll take the Marines version over some leftist reporter's version.

[World'sGoneInsane]

Exactly! Yet, they try to tear this young man down.

In his own mind, I am sure the correspondent thinks he is a hero for just being there.

[Dr. Ursus]

However,Meyer was presented the medal by the bravest man the Post’s editors ever met!

[MassPole]

“former Marine Corporal”...I’ll repeat...once a Marine always a Marine...

[marty60]

Boy this shows just how sick the Perry haters are.

BAE spreading a little money to smear a MOH awardee and the media gets to smear a Perry supporter. A two fer.

[lacrew]

One line from the story confirms that these people are clinically insane:

“...the revelations could tarnish one of the signature moments of his time as commander in chief.”

Apparently, this medal is all about Obama.

[VeniVidiVici]

Embeds - Can’t live with ‘em, Can’t live with ‘em.

[The Mayor]

I knew this was coming and got a heads up call last night. Much more coming and the truth will come out.

[kabar]

There has been plenty of politics played with the MOH. Clinton got Inouye the MOH. I also have no doubt that the services are also being pressured to do something similar.

There are inconsistencies between the citation as read by Obama and the facts as sworn to by the participants. I don't rule the reporter for being out of hand. He says Williams deserved the MOH but there are factual inconsistencies. And the WH played a role in the write-up.

[World'sGoneInsane]

I also posted a link that the Marines stand on Dakota's valor.

Yes, I believe the truth will show an orchestrated smear.

[Robe]

This Marine was working for a DOD contractor which he acussed of distributing better NOGS to the Paki’s that to our guys in the field.
He was harassed within the company and left. He received a less than glowing reference. Stating that he was “Mentally Unstable” and basically a loose cannon.
He sued
This is payback for outing a DOD contractor

[jersey117]

None of this came out until he publicly threw his support behind Perry. The left is dirt.

[kabar]

Correction Meyer not Williams

[huldah1776]

Every story of every battle has as many versions as there are participants. Until the author or reporter goes back and verifies the unverified facts, I say STFU.

He deserves the medal for what was verified, and he was given the medal in honor of ALL those who do any act of honor, including taking up arms. When was the last time a reporter earned a medal for saving anyone or retrieving the fallen? It’s not like receiving the Nobel Peace Prize of inaction.

[kabar]

Payback or not, the MOH has been politicized for some time now. Clinton upgraded the decorations of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team to award them 20 MOHs in 2000. Sen Inoyue was one of them.

To put this in perspective, there were only 464 MOHs awarded for action in WWII. In total, about 14,000 men served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. They ultimately earned 9,486 Purple Hearts and an unprecedented eight Presidential Unit Citations. 21 received the MOH, but only one contemperaneously. Clinton awarded the other 20. So 21 out of the 464 MOHs awarded in WWII went to one regiment of 14,000 compared to 443 to the remaining 16 million Americans who served under arms. This is not to detract from the valor and performance of these men, but there is no doubt that political correctness and guilt played a part.

I am sure there is pressure on the services to nominate people to represent their service and to have a public ceremony honoring them to represent all who have served. As a Vietnam vet I have seen such medal inflation. And I am sure everyone is familiar with LBJ's famous Silver Star medal achieved while flying as a passenger on the periphery of a combat zone.

I don't question Dakota Meyer's bravery or that he deserves the MOH. It is unfortunate that someone or some people decided to embelish his feats or to alter the facts. It tarnishes something needlessly. I would put it past the WH, which views everything thru the prisim of politics.

[World'sGoneInsane]

When was the last time a reporter earned a medal for saving anyone or retrieving the fallen?

As far as I have seen, most reporters come out of there with deep respect for our troops and the job they do.

And then there are others that will use their experience for profit and self-promotion.

[The Mayor]

I have been working with Mrs Price, mother of Aaron Kenefik, one of the Marines Meyer brought back. We have been able to get 3 articles written in the Buffalo News the latest says Answer the questions...

[kabar]

I suggest you reread the story. Did you catch this part?

What’s most striking is that all this probably was unnecessary. Meyer, the 296th Marine to earn the medal, by all accounts deserved his nomination. At least seven witnesses attested to him performing heroic deeds “in the face of almost certain death.”