US Medal of Honor recipient and active duty Marine Corps Sergeant Dakota Meyer commented on the successful military rescue operation in Iran on Sunday, April 5th, stating that this high-risk mission once again proves the US military’s “dominant position” on the battlefield.
Meyer emphasized during an interview on Fox News’ program “The Big Weekend Show” that the ability of the US military to carry out such operations within enemy territory, even during daylight, sends a strong signal to Iran.
“To me, the most revealing aspect is that we can carry out these missions during the day, which demonstrates the advantage we have over Iran,” he said. “I believe Iran is receiving this message… that is the strength and power we demonstrate, as well as the determination of our top leaders to do everything necessary to ensure America’s security.”
Meyer stated that this rescue operation embodies the core values of the US military.
He said, “‘Leave No Comrade Behind’ is not just a cool T-shirt slogan. For those of us who have been on the battlefield, it is a way of life, a creed we sincerely believe in.”
Last Friday, April 3rd, an F-15E fighter jet was hit by enemy fire in Isfahan province, Iran, forcing a US Air Force Colonel and Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) to eject and become stranded behind enemy lines.
Despite suffering an ankle injury and being unable to speak Farsi, the colonel, utilizing professional survival skills, managed to hide in mountain crevices, contact the US military through encrypted communication, confirm his identity, and ensure the rescue team did not fall into enemy traps.
According to Reuters, quoting an anonymous official, the operation was extremely perilous. Approximately 100 special forces members were deployed deep behind enemy lines, but during the extraction phase, two MC-130 transport planes responsible for evacuation were unable to take off due to mechanical issues, leaving about a hundred elite US soldiers stranded for several hours.
Faced with this emergency situation, the US command swiftly made a high-risk decision to dispatch more small aircraft to evacuate special forces members in batches. To prevent sensitive technology from falling into enemy hands, the US military destroyed the two damaged transport planes and four helicopters before retreating.
The operation ultimately concluded successfully with the safe rescue of the stranded colonel. President Trump later praised the rescue operation as “one of the bravest search and rescue missions in American history.”
Meyer believes that the survival and evasion of capture by the pilot highlight the effectiveness of military training.
“I can only imagine that this must be one of the worst scenarios for any of us – being alone, not knowing if anyone will come, when they will come, or how they will come to rescue,” he added, suggesting that if the Iranian forces had captured the pilot, he would have been of significant value.
Meyer’s comments on this rescue add frontline war hero insights to the ongoing US-Iran conflict.
Meyer himself served in the Marine Corps from 2006 to 2010, deploying twice to the Middle East and receiving the Medal of Honor for heroic actions during the 2009 Afghanistan campaign, before honorably retiring in 2010.
In 2025, out of a sense of duty to his country and comrades, Meyer decided to rejoin the military.