Citation...
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his
life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with
Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory
Command 3-7, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 8 September
2009.Corporal Meyer maintained security at a patrol rally point
while other members of his team moved on foot with two
platoons of Afghan National Army and Border Police into the
village of Ganjgal for a pre-dawn meeting with village
elders. Moving into the village, the patrol was ambushed by
more than 50 enemy fighters firing rocket propelled
grenades, mortars, and machine guns from houses and
fortified positions on the slopes above. Hearing over the
radio that four U.S. team members were cut off, Corporal
Meyer seized the initiative.
With a fellow Marine driving, Corporal Meyer took the
exposed gunner's position in a gun-truck as they drove down
the steeply terraced terrain in a daring attempt to disrupt
the enemy attack and locate the trapped U.S. team.
Disregarding intense enemy fire now concentrated on their
lone vehicle, Corporal Meyer killed a number of enemy
fighters with the mounted machine guns and his rifle, some
at near point blank range, as he and his driver made three
solo trips into the ambush area.
During the first two trips, he and his driver evacuated
two dozen Afghan soldiers, many of whom were wounded. When
one machine gun became inoperable, he directed a return to
the rally point to switch to another gun-truck for a third
trip into the ambush area where his accurate fire directly
supported the remaining U.S. personnel and Afghan soldiers
fighting their way out of the ambush.
Despite a shrapnel wound to his arm, Corporal Meyer made
two more trips into the ambush area in a third gun-truck
accompanied by four other Afghan vehicles to recover more
wounded Afghan soldiers and search for the missing U.S. team
members. Still under heavy enemy fire, he dismounted the
vehicle on the fifth trip and moved on foot to locate and
recover the bodies of his team members.
Corporal Meyer's daring initiative and bold fighting
spirit throughout the 6-hour battle significantly disrupted
the enemy's attack and inspired the members of the combined
force to fight on. His unwavering courage and steadfast
devotion to his U.S. and Afghan comrades in the face of
almost certain death reflected great credit upon himself and
upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the
United States Naval Service.
