You’ve no doubt heard the name Dakota Meyer at least once over the last eight years. After all, he’s a war hero who saved dozens of lives. He also married someone who’s no stranger to being in the news, social media, and/or tabloids. Meyer’s face has appeared in the trending category on social media more than once and believe me, some of the reasons he’s so well-known you should most definitely know about. Meyer is what some refer to as a real-life superhero and others refer to as just a good, old, down-home boy. Either way, Meyer isn’t likely to ride off into the sunset anytime soon, so here’s five things you didn’t about Dakota Meyer, but should.
1. Place/Date of Birth/Age
Dakota Louis Meyer will turn thirty years old this year, as he was born on June 26, 1988. He was born and raised in Columbia, Kentucky. His parents are Michael Meyer and Felicia Gilliam. After he graduated from high school, he went to Louisville, Kentucky where he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp.
2. Hero of Afghanistan War
Meyer’s action on September 8, 2009 in Afghanistan was nothing less than those of a patriotic hero. Meyer, with the help of Staff Sergeant Juan Rodriguez-Chavez, rushed into the heat of battle after hearing a patrol of Afghan and American forces being ambushed. Even though they’d asked to go in after their fellows-in-arms, they’d been denied by higher-ups over and over. Those who called the orders claimed it was just too dangerous, even though four of Meyer’s squad were missing. However, Meyer said he’d never leave a brother behind like that and mounted the gun while Rodriguez-Chavez drove the Humvee. Meyer personally put his self in harm’s way time and again to pull both American and Afghan forces, dead, alive, or injured, out of the middle of battle and to safety. Meyer succeeded in finding the four who had been missing and, unfortunately, dead, but thanks to him they could be brought home. In addition, he saved thirty-six men, twenty-four of which were American Marines and soldiers and twelve were Afghani.
3. The Medal of Honor
Meyer, who is now a Marine Corps veteran, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the War of Afghanistan at the Battle of Ganjgal, which happened on September 8, 2009. It is actually very rare for a living recipient to receive this, the highest honor awarded in the military. Meyer is the first living Marine in the last thirty-eight years to receive such an honor.
4. Marriage/Divorce to Bristol Palin
Bristol Palin, who is the daughter of Sarah Palin, the 2008 Vice-President nominee, first announced back in March of 2015 that the two were engaged to be married. Sadly, the original date for the wedding was called off. However, Palin released news that she was pregnant in June, giving birth to Meyer’s daughter in December 2015. The two finally ended up getting married in May 2016 and by December Palin was expecting their second daughter, which was born in May 2017. Less than two years after getting married, however, Meyer is filing for divorce, having moved out the couple’s home.
5. TV Competition Participant
Dakota Meyer was a participant of Maximum Warrior’s fourth season in 2013. Maximum Warrior is a a competition which features ten challenges, all of which are military-inspired. US military operators compete in these challenges for a chance at becoming the Maximum Warrior. Meyer finished in fourth place after being eliminated in the eight episode of the season called ”Night Hostage Rescue.”
Follow Us
