Honoring America's heroes on Veterans Day

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-- -- members of our military who have served our country as we observe veterans day.

Former marine Sargent Dakota Meyer was awarded the medal of honor for his actions in September of 2009.

In Afghanistan.

He is just the third living recipient of the medal of honor since the Vietnam War.

President Barack Obama spoke about his heroism during the ceremony to present him with a medal of honor last year.

Men were being wounded and killed and four Americans.

-- friends were surrounded.

Four times -- and wanna ask permission to -- Four times they were denied.

It was they were told to dangerous they were defying orders but they were doing what they thought was right.

So they drove straight into a killing zone.

Because upper body and head exposed to a blizzard of fire from AK forty sevens and machine guns -- mortars and rocket propelled grenades.

Coming upon wounded Afghan soldiers -- jumped out and loaded each of the wounded into the humvee.

Each time exposing himself to all that enemy fire.

They turned around and drove those wounded back to safety.

Those who were there called it the most intense combat -- ever -- Dakota Guam would have been forgiven for not going back him but -- Dakota says you don't leave anybody -- -- Dakotas for American friends were killed that day.

They were staff sergeant -- can affect.

Hospital corpsman third class James -- gunnery sergeant Edwin Johnson junior and first lieutenant Michael Johnson.

A fifth man army sergeant first class -- Westbrook -- later from his ones.

But -- -- of risk his life to make sure that their bodies were returned home.

And he also help save the lives of 36 other men.

He tells his story in the book into the fire joining me now from his home in Kentucky.

Sargent Dakota -- Pardon.

-- I'm honored to have you on the show homeless veterans day weekend.

How did you first -- well thank you so much for being here and I can't tell you what what honor we all feel just being able to visit with you and -- thank you.

For what you did for America and especially for your fellow Marines.

I want you to tell me what did you feel.

When you found out you were going to receive the medal of honor.

A million dollars I was actually in north my hometown in Kentucky and I was working for construction company my cousins.

And now the president calling and -- I tried to avoid this call because you know this is not something that I wanted -- I don't feel like I deserved the medal of honor and and yeah this definitely in my guess at some -- wanted but.

You know with president said to me was so it's bigger than me and and and I realized then Allen and and it is it's about how -- you know the guys remember that day and about how the military is remembered in.

And and if he gives me a platform to go out make a difference in you know -- accepted on behalf of all of them.

-- you were actually told to stand down not to go into this firefight and do what you did which ultimately resulted in this saving -- 36 lives.

You know.

To defy an order but to do it because.

You saw other people in danger and put yourself in danger fart -- I'm just curious were you ever reprimanded for the fact that you.

Defied an order to go into -- what you did that.

Earns you this this recognition.

No I'm dollars and I get I get asked that a lot actually governor but.

You know you know we are talking military obedience to order isn't and that's -- when the most important thing is they were taught but I can tell you -- stronger than any obedience to order is that where retarded the brotherhood.

And you know obvious we were both told know numerous times and there.

We know the brotherhood to never really have fallen man behind is is -- in our hearts and and it's in our morals and and that's what we stick with and that's who we always go back to a situation like.

That lot of veterans come back they have a hard time adjusting to civilian life after they've seen what folks like you have seen.

What can we do to better help our veterans because we owe it to them we owe it to -- what can we do as a country.

You know I think we have to come in and I felt like you know I'll speak on my experience and I did on my book into the fire.

But I got back I tried to live independently in and that's and that's that's no way you live in the -- none of us do that not all this a lot of support system and what happens is we get out work.

I don't know why but it seems like sometimes Americans don't understand how veterans are you know the military lingo or whatever else.

So so definitely I think we just need to step in and we need to didn't do it makes America great we need to stand next to each other.

And and be there for each other hard times you know and same thing for veterans you know.

We have we have to get -- in an agreement and you know care or bring them back into society.

And let -- know they were there and and and I think I think you know -- there's a couple big keys to it is.

Number one is -- on the job you know these guys just sacrificed so much for us let's let's get on the job and then that'll that'll put a lot of stuff in in order.

-- And well we did all of these guys know how much we appreciate their sacrifices.

Going over there and and how can we do that thank them.

And go out and and and live our life the best that we can every single day in and take advantage of our freedom.

And and just know that you know whether whether -- were OK with what happened election or not.

You know -- it's over with -- the election's final.

Let let's go on an -- and no matter what -- -- Omar -- the greatest country on the face of the earth because I can promise you we still are.

We certainly are and we are because -- outstanding people like you because god bless you and thank.

Sargent Dakota Meyer -- so much into the fire.

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Honoring America's heroes on Veterans Day

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