I don’t know how all of you responded to the news of Dakota Meyer gaining national attention for his bravery in Afghanistan, but I was like a proud mama. I was reminded once again of something I overheard my oldest brother, Robert, telling my mom and dad that his commanding officer told him when he was in the Army. My parents were asking my brother questions on his first trip back home when I heard him say an officer told him, “I would rather have a farm boy from Kentucky any time, than a kid from New York City in my platoon.”
I remember feeling proud of that remark even then, and I thought about how proud Dakota Meyer’s platoon leader must feel.
Dakota Meyer shows such humility, despite getting the nation’s highest award for military bravery. He said that while the United States troops were being shot at, he could only think that they were his brothers, and he had to do what he could to save them. They were being ambushed by what he called a “killing fest,” and that was when his strength and bravery took control.
Even though he expected to be killed or wounded at any minute, he never gave up.
When he was asked on “60 Minutes” if what he had done was extraordinary his response was, “If I had brought them out alive, that would have been extraordinary.”
He has made me so proud and honored to be living in Kentucky. While there are so many things that make one wonder about Kentucky’s youth these days, Dakota Meyer has shown us there is still so much good in our young people. What a role model he is.
I couldn’t help but wonder if a church somewhere, or his momma, or someone else was praying for him at the very minute he was going through all that. By all rights, he should have been dead too, by the way he described the action of the day. I couldn’t help but get an image in my mind of angels all around him and that Jeep as he ran to safety.
Sometimes we get so caught up in life here that we don’t give enough thought to those who are going through hardships far from home on foreign land. For all the Kentucky soldiers and others, I am so proud of all who protect our country. Keep on keeping the faith. I am hoping this war will get resolved soon. I have resolved to keep you in my prayers.
