Felicia Gilliam didnt know her son was selected as a Medal of Honor recipient the first living Marine to receive the nations highest award for valor in 41 years - until reporters called her Kentucky home Wednesday morning.
President Obama had called Dakota Meyer on Monday to tell him the news she said. Thats Meyer: an adventure-seeking but humble 23-year-old who doesnt brag about his accomplishments she said.
Hes very humble about it" said Gilliam 42 whose son moved to Austin when he left the military last year to work for a private employer here. He doesnt see himself as a hero. This isnt for him. Its for the men that died that day his friends."
Obama will present the Medal of Honor to Meyer for braving enemy fire in a bid to find and retrieve the bodies of three missing Marines and a Navy corpsman on Sept. 8 2009 in Ganjgal Afghanistan a remote village near the Pakistan border in violent Kunar province. He charged into a kill zone on foot and alone and carried the four men out of the area which had been under fire for hours The Military Times reported. He was very close to them" Gilliam said of Meyers Marine comrades. These men live eat and sleep together and they become very close." Killed in the September battle were Gunnery Sgts. Edwin Johnson 31 and Aaron Kenefick 30; 1st Lt. Michael Johnson 25; Hospitalman 3rd Class James Layton 22; an Afghan interpreter and at least eight Afghan security forces members according to the Military Times. Meyer originally from Greensburg Ky. signed up in 2006 for the Marines out of Green County High School where he played football and was selected to play in the Pigskin Classic all-star high school football game. He was drawn to the Marines thanks to his appetite for adventure Gilliam said.Dakota has been the adventure-seeker and the military offered him everything he wanted and it would give him goals and skill and an opportunity to serve his country" she said. I think he chose the Marines because they were the biggest and the baddest."
Growing up he enjoyed four-wheeling skydiving and rock-climbing she said. He was later based in Hawaii for the Marines and stayed until he left in June 2010 to work for a weapons developer in Austin Gilliam said. Only two living recipients Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta and Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry have received the award for actions in Iraq and Afghanistan according to The Associated Press.We are all very proud of Dakota" Gilliam said. He went above and beyond the call of duty and to say that his actions were selfless is an understatement. But he did what he did because he loved the men he worked with."
