Driven by a patriotic commitment to defend his nation, a Medal of Honor recipient has reenlisted in the Marine Corps after 15 years as a civilian.
Dakota Meyer, who saved 36 lives during a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan, took his oath from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon.
His extraordinary return to service comes at a critical moment when America needs true patriots willing to stand up for it.
Meyer’s decision to rejoin the Marine Corps as a sergeant in the reserves reflects his unwavering commitment to service.
After being awarded the Medal of Honor by former President Barack Obama in 2011 for his heroic actions during a 2009 ambush in Afghanistan, Meyer could have remained comfortably in civilian life.
Instead, he chose to return to uniform, becoming one of the few Medal of Honor recipients to reenter military service.
The decorated Marine saved 36 lives and killed at least eight Taliban insurgents during the Battle of Ganjgal in Afghanistan.
During the incident, four American soldiers died in an ambush, and another later succumbed to wounds.
Meyer explained his motivation plainly: “I had more to give.” His reenlistment speaks volumes about his character and his belief in standing up for America.
“There’s never been a better time to serve our country than right now,” Meyer said during an interview.
“It hasn’t been a single day since I got out 15 years ago that I didn’t wake up and truly want to serve again. I didn’t want to do it because of the rank. I didn’t want to do it for recognition. I just did it because the mission never left me,” he added.
Meyer’s reenlistment takes place as many Americans question the direction of the military, particularly following the Biden administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Meyer himself has been vocal about the jailing of Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, who was punished for criticizing that chaotic withdrawal on social media while in uniform.
While administering Meyer’s oath at the Pentagon, Secretary Hegseth highlighted the significance of Meyer’s return.
“I want the American people. I want your fellow Marines. I want other service members to look at the example and say…you are never too experienced, you’ve never done too much that you can’t continue to contribute,” Hegseth said.
While Meyer will adhere to military standards during his service, he made it clear where his priorities lie.
“The great part about being in the reserves is I’m still a citizen when I’m not on orders. When I’m on orders I’ll comply obviously with whatever the standard is,” Meyer stated.
Meyer hopes his decision will inspire young Americans to consider military careers at a time when service to country seems increasingly overlooked.
Despite concerns about military recruitment in recent years, there has been a rise in enlistments.
Meyer believes the trend reflects Americans’ search for meaning and desire to be part of something greater than themselves.
After his initial service, Meyer married Bristol Palin, daughter of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, with whom he has two children.
