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Marine Corps veteran Dakota Meyer talks to Alan about the actions which led to him receiving the nation’s highest award for combat valor.
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Now -- comes I want to welcome to our microphones Dakota Meyer.
He is -- medal of honor recipient is via its highest military decoration awarded by the US government.
-- service in the -- Games ago we talk about that his book is -- into the fire firsthand account of the most extraordinary battle in the Afghan war.
Mr.
Meyer thank you so much when and I can call you a -- -- David one of the program.
There are things -- appreciate -- very much.
What I have to tell me if you get a letter audience what happened on that day that you write about in in your book it truly extraordinary story and -- just.
Living here you tell us what you can about it.
I know we -- -- -- going in to try.
Do achieve your engagement trying to do is -- tell me that actually bit older for the village.
And we're doing intricate -- out susteren Taliban.
But it got in there and -- -- got in there.
Also to the people outside the valley and -- they got -- there.
And they were his name bush Morissette.
And they were under attack came not from me and Maria Chavez decided that we -- -- and try to keep guys -- And after about six hours.
You know -- being killed.
-- -- -- Disobeying orders correct when when you -- this.
Dental -- to pure torture to go to him and we're told no -- Whose -- -- now what's a chain of command.
Or -- if they want first started in.
Lieutenant are -- -- it's time.
-- -- -- -- -- -- I don't know.
How do you -- make a decision like that to -- in order knowing there could be some consequences.
Right thing to do you know my Brothers -- packed in there and they need to open.
I was gonna do whatever -- could help him get him out or face the consequences or that.
And what would that what could the -- I -- you wound up as a hero and in the middle of honor being praised by the president the commander in chief but what could the consequences event.
Mean.
I guess everything after a court martial.
But but that never happened why didn't they pursue that.
I mean because when I got to narrow the right through a major -- I don't know I'm not there.
I don't know I don't know why can't be sure that -- new.
The UN backed lights -- that they will at this point you went back as I understand it about five times into metal and you really believed.
Did you were not gonna survive.
Well no actually at first I'm going and I chipped it out gonna -- is gonna make them do you know what they'll give it -- -- What I mean what -- -- -- your mind and a moment like that you you you were convinced that -- was over for you.
But you gonna do the right thing regardless of what the consequences.
Word would be for you.
That's similar abilities your file that died that day instead of being here right now on and -- -- you know being with my team.
And but you know it's not that what happened to you have to take negative state and -- -- some positive and try to make a difference and that's all you can do.
-- I understand you correctly when you just said it would be it would have been easier had you died that day.
Yeah I mean of course should be you don't have to live audio have to deal with that anymore you know who live -- it's hard to -- But it but I mean it's just it's part of life that we can't we don't control anything.
So try this want to go -- make a difference and try to live for the guys about that day and controllers try to go ahead make sure they live on through me.
You really have suffered as a result isn't effective recounted as I understand it when he interviews -- you actually.
We're gonna -- or did attempt suicide.
Did tell -- what happened and and you realize at some point that.
That was not gonna work out you're you're you're glad to be alive -- present.
No no I am glad to be alive and it's -- -- -- they're -- -- my own life.
And -- and that's my family you know anything I've got treated bigger picture and I know it's like the president told -- you know it's bigger than me.
And that's where it is it's bigger than me it's about going out making -- different -- -- a lot more people than just me you know it's not about his it's so there's.
And you know on all of them do it still charge mark -- amount of excitement team because -- a better place they'll suffer anymore.
So yeah I've got a better just under forgot something that -- The look at all the people you say it.
And you have -- -- played enough.
In you know I'm sure people of say to you.
Boy you're being awfully hard on yourself as a real genuine war hero who saved people who would otherwise not have survived it all without your help.
But you know the thing -- there's there's a lot of pupil the could still afraid that meant that -- died.
Due to meet film and now their -- media I didn't amount which.
I've been -- trying obvious that in charge.
Let's say they're also got fortune Barack administration people and and and they can.
Get something out of it.
But I did go to Meyer's book has gone into the fire firsthand account of the most extraordinary battle in the Afghan war your account one incident on that day.
When you turn around and there was somebody within AK 47.
And you did not have an AK 47.
What happened at that moment -- headed you managed to survive that person behind you who clearly was.
Over matched -- you.
-- -- I'm sure there's so -- you succeed bar certain people.
Yeah to turn -- look at seeing him and proportionally much and it could trigger my weapon that we could trigger and it was facing upward.
An actual degree and get it right it just took forty millimeter grenade.
Bingo law and that surprised me and you integrate our back to work -- -- -- -- on my best friend leave it he'd been jailed.
And I was trying to get him out of there and then the guy got up again and determined if -- And how we able to overcome him.
But hit him and others try to hit him that this giving away from me miniature -- anymore doesn't -- his -- -- hit in the head with a rock and then there's Detroit there has not come out.
That's the that's still plan you do human -- seems like that in your mind a lot.
Yeah I mean adjusted -- it.
You know it's it's like I feel in my mind it's it's so hard to believe it -- but I feel it's so it is not fees from -- thinks so vivid.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- in Arabic dual action I can I ask you the whole the whole deal with -- whole day he would like I'm watching myself.
Like you're watching a movie right yeah is even hard to believe that you -- the person in that movie that this actually happened to you there -- How do you get beyond this emotionally -- -- -- you getting counseling or do you still have issues where or have some of the talk to to help you get through all of us.
-- have much forced to turn around -- have a good family and I just take it day by day.
There was another person you work -- that -- you think also deserves the the medal of honor -- be quite unique tell me about that other person you talk about in your book.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I think to try to -- medal he does period and the media you know you can get an unfortunate circumstances right now I don't -- harming.
And hopefully they cannot do the right thing didn't get a medal.
Are they giving him a hard time because of the disobeying of the order.
Not a I don't know what it is I don't.
I don't know.
It's really incredible book is called into the fire it's a firsthand account.
What is the most during battle in the Afghan war is it your sense of the Afghan war.
Is worth it that we're doing good work there that -- important that we have been there for the length of time.
You know I think it's important that we just support the troops and I think that there over -- -- -- -- -- we just don't forget to sacrifice should terminate together and a lot of people they're elected in positions that are making of the true.
All right did Dakota sergeant Myron thank you very much talking -- -- tonight --
