LOUISVILLE, Ky. — President Barack Obama is standing by his award of the Medal of Honor to a Marine in the Afghanistan war despite a published report Thursday charging exaggerations of the battle.
Obama presented the award to Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer three months ago, calling him the “best of a generation” that joined the military after 9/11.
McClatchy Newspapers reported that its review of documents turned up numerous “untrue, unsubstantiated or exaggerated” assertions about the firefight.
The report by a McClatchy Newspapers correspondent who was embedded with the military and witnessed the Sept. 8, 2009, battle, based the story on analysis of dozens of military documents.
The story also said Meyer displayed heroism that day and deserves the award.
Meyer, a native of Green County, Ky., could not be reached for comment Thursday.
A friend of Meyer’s who attended the Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House on Sept. 15 said Meyer was frustrated by the report because he has used the medal to draw attention to fallen and wounded Marines and soldiers.
“He’s been very clear in almost every interview, he didn’t ask for this. But he now has learned that it’s his responsibility,” said Chris Schmidt, of Columbia, Ky.
The Marines said in a statement they were very disappointed McClatchy published the story. The award investigation process used first-person, eyewitness accounts and supporting documents and Meyer “rightly deserved the nation’s highest military honor,” the Marines said.
The military said Meyer saved 13 American and 23 Afghan soldiers’ lives, and he “personally killed at least eight Taliban insurgents, while providing cover for his team to fight their way out.” The McClatchy report said that could not have happened because 12 Americans and the reporter were ambushed that day. Four were killed, and a fifth later died of injuries.
