President Barack Obama will award former active duty Marine Corps Sgt. Dakota Meyer the Medal of Honor during a ceremony Sept. 15, the White House announced last week. Meyer is being recognized for his heroic actions Sept. 8, 2009, while serving with Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8 in Afghanistan’s Kunar province. He will be the third living recipient to receive the nation’s highest military honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan and the first Marine to receive the honor for actions during the two wars. “I am extremely pleased … that the President has announced that he will award the Medal of Honor to Sgt. Dakota Meyer,” said Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos following the announcement. “Sgt. Meyer embodies all that is good about our nation’s corps of marines. He is a living example of the brave young men and women whose service, fidelity, and sacrifice make us so proud.” Meyer is currently serving in the inactive ready reserve. (Washington release)
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.