Medal of Honor recipient recruiting America to help military children | 7Salutes

WASHINGTON (7News) — One of the country’s greatest military heroes is now taking on a very noble mission --- and he’s enlisting the help of the entire country.

Dakota Meyer is a highly decorated marine who put his life on the line numerous times during intense combat. Now, he’s taking that tenacity toward helping many of our nation’s children.

Meyer doesn’t see himself as a hero. Instead, he considers himself just a normal guy and doesn’t make a big deal over the fact that he’s a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

“The Medal and the award that I received that day, it's not a story about heroism, it was the easiest decision I’ve ever made in my life,” said Sgt. Dakota Meyer (Ret.)

In September 2009, 21-year-old Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer was on patrol in Afghanistan. It was a typical day providing resources for locals, but this day was different.

“I was sitting back with the vehicles, and once my team got in, we’d been set up and they were caught in what we call a ‘kill sack,’” said Meyer.

More than 50 Taliban fighters fired guns, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades at his friends.

Meyer begged his superiors for permission to help them, and each time he was told 'no,' it was too dangerous.

So, Meyer and a fellow Marine hopped in a Humvee and went anyway, taking out the enemy and evacuating Americans and Afghan soldiers. Despite being wounded, Meyer went back again, and again, and saved 36 lives that day.

In 2011, former President Barack Obama awarded Meyer the Medal of Honor. He’s the first living Marine in over 40 years to receive the honor.

“The Medal of Honor is nothing but the representation of what every human being walking the planet is capable of --- if they believe in a cause that’s bigger than themselves, and they love human beings so much that they’re willing to do whatever it takes to stop the suffering, even if its at the cost of their lives. That is all that’s story is,” said Meyer.

All these years later, Meyer continues to serve his fellow man away from the battlefield.

He has partnered with the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation to establish the "If You Can, You Must" scholarship.

These scholarships support the children of Marines --- covering post-high school, undergraduate, and technical education programs.

Meyer is challenging himself and his fellow Americans to raise $2 million for the foundation, adding that some of these military families need it.

“They’re going to have empty seats at their tables because of where men and women should have been sitting, their loved ones, but they’re not because they sacrificed their tomorrows for our todays. I hope people never forget that,” Meyer said. “Serving this country is a family business. We focus a lot on the service member but really- everyone in that family has to sacrifice in order for this country to stay free.”

Meyer wants to reach this $2 million goal by the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday, which is Nov. 10.

If you’d like to help in the effort, click here.