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The Big I: "Glowing" Cats; Marine To Receive Highest Honor; Six Days to Live for Troy Davis; SAT Scores Drop; Boehner's Plan for Jobs; 428,000 New Unemployment Claims; Casey Anthony Gets Billed; Groups Rush to Save Condemned Man; Target: Gadhafi's Desert Stronghold; Untested Rebel Force

Aired September 15, 2011 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. Do not adjust your television. What you're seeing is in fact a cat that glows with that greenish tint.

In today's big eye, we're taking a look at an experiment from the Mayo Clinic to the fight against AIDS. Researchers there are studying FIV, which causes AIDS in cats similar to the way HIV causes AIDS in humans.

Genes are taking from a Rhesus monkey that actually fights FIV so why the green glow? Dr. Eric Poeschla with the Mayo Clinic explains.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ERIC POESCHLA, MAYO CLINIC: The green glow is a marker gene. It is really there just to allow to us easily tell whether the animal and the cells have the genes of interest without having to do an invasive test to tell that. So just by shining a blue light on the animals, you see the reflective green glow. It is actually the same color as in a jellyfish.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Dr. Poeschla says the goal of the experiment was to give the cat something it did not have in order to block FIV. The project has been in the works for several years, but it is still too early to tell if one or more proteins are needed to block FIV. And it will take even longer to determine if there will be any sort of human benefit.

Dakota Meyer calls himself a failure. This hour, a nation in awe of his bravery calls him a hero. Meyer was a 21-year-old Marine helping train Afghan soldiers in Kunar Province when their patrol was ambushed two years ago this month.

He defied his commanders by jumping into a Humvee along with a comrade and rushing into enemy fire where he killed several insurgents and saved the lives of three dozen U.S. and Afghan troops.

He also found and recovered the bodies of three of his fellow Marines and a Navy Corps man. Men he considered his brothers, whom he couldn't save and whom he said he thinks about every day.

Later this hour at the White House, Meyer will be awarded the Medal of Honor, America's highest military recognition. I want you to see that medal up close, OK? There are actually three medals of honor. As a Marine, Meyer will receive the Navy medal. The Army and the Air Force have their own, but the Navy's is actually the oldest.

It is surrounded by 34 stars representing the number of states in 1862 when it was struck. The insignia shows Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and war repulsing a figure symbolizing this war, a fitting design for the civil war.

Meyer is the first living Marine to receive the Medal of Honor from the Iraq or Afghan wars. You will see the ceremony live right here at 2:45 Eastern Time on CNN.

But now, I want to bring in our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr. She has much more on the day that Meyer calls the worst of his life.

Barbara, war is chaotic. We know that, but the events of September 8th, 2009, were especially so. What have you been able to find out?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Randi, when this young man steps on the podium shortly at the White House, next to the president of the United States, he truly is stepping into the pages of history.

What he went through on that day in Afghanistan, you know, it really will just make you stop and pause. They got ambushed. They were in a firefight. These sorts of things happen in Afghanistan. But when they called for help, when they called their headquarters and said, we need helicopters. We need reinforcements. We need artillery fire. We are pinned down.

They didn't get an answer. Four times Dakota Meyer asked for permission to go to the help of his buddies who were a short distance away. Four times he was denied permission. This young Marine finally disobeyed orders with another Marine. They got into a gun truck.

Meyers was in a turret totally exposed to enemy fire and everything rushing off literally firing at the insurgents at point blank range. There was a major investigation of this incident. There were three letters of reprimand issued to officers who it is felt failed to perform their duties.

It was found by the Army that in the higher headquarters, there was complacency, lack of training, lack of responsiveness, and they just didn't get it. They did not understand that these young troops were pinned down under fire in extremis.

That is a failure because, of course, you know, the commanders are supposed to know and make it their business to know exactly what's going on when their guys are caught in a firefight, Randi. KAYE: What an incredible drama playing out there on the battlefield. Whatever happened to the staff sergeant who was in the Humvee that day?

STARR: Well, he and others, especially another young man are now going to be recommended possibly, possibly for additional medals. We want to tell that you a young man named Army Captain Swenson who went with Dakota Meyer under fire to rescue the bodies of four U.S. troops who had been killed.

Nobody could bring them back from the kill zone. They both went in one more time into the kill zone to rescue these U.S. killed in action troops. Captain Swenson, we are now told is going to be recommended also for a medal, possibly, possibly the Medal of Honor.

This whole incident is really beyond extraordinary, very tragic. Today is all about the heroism, the gallantry and the bravery of this young former Marine Corporal Dakota Meyer, from Kentucky.

It is really to honor his actions. Like so many other troops, he says it is not about him. It is about everybody who fights and serves the country. That's what Dakota Meyer says he wants people to be aware of.

KAYE: Yes, when he calls it the worst day of his life that day, it certainly sounds like it was. Barbara Starr, thank you very much.

And we are not done yet. In our next segment, we'll hear from Dakota Meyer himself. He doesn't like to talk about that faithful day in Afghanistan, but you want to listen when he does.

Taking a look at some other developing stories that we're following. Once again, time is running out for the man that you see right here.

Troy Davis is scheduled to be executed here in Georgia six days from today. His execution date has been delayed three times already. Davis was convicted of killing a police officer in Savannah in 1989.

Since then, seven of nine eyewitnesses have changed their stories saying they were pressured by police to testify against Davis. They are joined by hundreds of thousands of people who have signed petitions calling for clemency. Davis' only hope now is that the state Board of Pardons and Paroles will agree.

House Speaker John Boehner is taking aim at President Obama's new jobs bill mincing new words last hour. Boehner was emphatic in saying tax increases are off the table when the special congressional debt committee gets down to work.

Repeating a familiar GOP refrain, Boehner said tax increases destroy jobs. What the 12-member "Super Committee" should do instead, Boehner said, is implement tax reform that could lower tax rates for individuals and corporations while closing loopholes and credits in existing laws. A Marine Medal of Honor recipient says he is no hero, but soon the world will know him as one. How Dakota Meyer earned that prestigious honor next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Back in 2009, Marine Dakota Meyers saved the lives of 13 U.S. troops and 23 Afghan soldiers. Now he is receiving the Medal of Honor. Despite that recognition, he still calls himself a failure. But in a short while, the country will be calling him a hero. Here's a look at Dakota Meyer.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SGT. DAKOTA MEYER, U.S. MARINE CORPS: I'm Dakota Meyer. I'm from Columbia, Kentucky. Anyone who receives the Medal of Honor and we're still here to talk about it, that's a great honor to receive it. But there's a huge price that was paid for it.

I'm accepting the award on behalf of the guys that died that day, the men and women serving, the men and women who will serve the Marine Corps. It's a huge pride to be a Marine. It's a great honor. It's more than just a uniform. It's more than just a job. It's the way of life.

It's a brotherhood that sticks with you even after you're out of the Marine Corps. It's a bad day, it's -- to describe it, it's probably the worst day of my life. Not probably. It is the worst day of my life. It's a bad day. I didn't just lose four Marines.

I lost Afghan buddies too. I lost six from our platoon and I think that's something we all need to keep in perspective. It's not just four guys. We were so close to the Afghans working alongside them that I mean, they were just like your brothers too.

I was applying aid to as many of them as I could. We were under heavy fire the entire time. I know I applied quite a few tourniquets trying to stop the bleeding on a lot of the guys and just really trying to apply aid and comfort to them as much as I could in the situation that we were handed.

I didn't do anything that any other Marine wouldn't do. I definitely don't see myself as a hero. I see myself as the furthest thing there a hero. I went in there to get my guys out alive and I failed. So I'm more of a failure than a hero in my eyes.

Do I think I deserve it? No. But I'm not on the awards process. I don't make that decision, you know. Nobody asked me if I thought I deserved the Medal of Honor. So I would much rather have all my guys here alive than to get the medal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you feel guilty?

MEYER: Yes. How do you not feel guilty? I do. There's ton of guilt that comes with it. We all signed the contract. That's one thing. That's probably what gives you sleep at night. You know, we all signed up for it. I was going over there, I was will to die for the country.

Just like every one of them, like any men and women serving. We sign a contract. Every single day I think about what happened and how I'm going to carry on my life and honor those guys and I think what it does is it gives you an extra -- it gives you an edge to everyone else.

Because you know, it's not just me. I'm not just going around for myself now. Now I'm doing it for other people. Once you have that instilled in you, it's not -- it gives you an extra edge. If I can't look down, I don't have a reason to push on, I've got four reasons on my wrist. That's why I keep their names on my wrist.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: And be sure to stay tuned. Dakota Meyer will receive the Medal of Honor later this hour. You can watch the ceremony live right here CNN.

What are our kids really learning in school? Standardized testing could be a big part of it. We'll take a deeper look at the issue coming next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: The average SAT score slipped across the board and hit a record low in reading. These the average scores from the more than 1.6 million high school seniors who took the SATs. The College Board reports, while the math score remained about the same as previous years, take a look at the reading and the writing scores.

Those are the lowest reading scores recorded since 1972 when the College Board began tracking average scores. According to the College Board, the decline in scores does not necessarily mean a decline in performance.

The board explains the drop in part from more students from different academic backgrounds taking those SATs. Standardized testing, like the SATs, is without a doubt a complicated and controversial subject. It raises the question whether our kids are simply being taught to get good grades on tests or are they really being taught to think critically.

As a part of the CNN series, "Fix Our Schools," we are tackling that issue. CNN's student news anchor, Carl Azuz here with me to talk about that. So there are so many kinds though of standardized testing. How do you define it?

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Basically, standardized testing is a sort of set or rigid way of giving a test. There's a certain way that questions are asked and this can be applied to a large group of students.

Then there is a certain way, a limited way in which those questions can be answered and there are certain advantages to giving a standardized test. One of them involves the fact that it holds schools accountable.

Schools are sort of forced to show that students are getting the education they need. It gives evidence of learning, standardized test do. A student will score higher at the end of the semester than at the beginning, showing some progress and it American measures that student progress.

In this tangible way where one student can be compared to another student and another thing, Randi, it is not particularly expensive. So you are getting certain advantages. You are seeing results in students and they don't cost a great deal.

KAYE: Is this where I come clean and I admit that I feared standardized testing day at school because I really did, but why do they get such a bad wrath?

AZUZ: A lot of kids fear standardized testing. But, I mean, you know, big picture when you look at why they get a bad wrath. I mean, there are a number of reasons for that. A number of controversies that have sort of escalated in recent years as no child left behind has taken hold even race to the top.

For one, teachers are accused or criticized of teaching to the test in some cases where a focus on curriculum is in preparing kids to get answers right rather than practicing a foreign language, thinking analytically or critically. That's the second big con of standardized testing.

Kids will memorize things, what's called Roet memorization instead of capitalizing on a student's desire to learn. Also, there's the high stakes controversy involved here. Under race to the top, government assistance is partially linked to test results in a limited number of cases.

Under no child left behind, we're going back to 2002 here, schools can be threatened with closure if they don't show progress measured in part by standardized testing. So it is easy to see, Randi, why people a lot of folks are saying there is a problem here.

KAYE: And other countries use these too.

AZUZ: Yes, I mean, it is not limited to the United States. If you look at Finland, Finland, for instance, is consistently ranked at the top internationally in terms of the education students get. In Finland, standardized test are not used as widely.

Finland is going to focus on projects based learning. But there are a number of issues, a number of complications to, you know, putting that in place in the United States. But it is not, you know, just all about project-based learning or analytical thinking.

Japan tried project-based learning for a while and noticed a decline in test scores so recently went back to standardized testing. Then in China, you mentioned earlier, math, reading, science. Chinese students are among the top in the world in these subjects and China utilizes standardized testing.

So I guess, the solution really comes in to finding a balance where you can sort of pull back from high stakes testing. Don't threaten, but still utilize standardized testing to measure student progress.

KAYE: Well, you brought me way back there, Carl, to those days.

AZUZ: Not happy ones. I'm afraid, Randi. I appreciate it.

KAYE: Good information. Carl Azuz, thank you. Nice to see you.

The global economic crisis has been in the headlines for some time now. But which country's financial problems pose the most risk? That is ahead in today's Q & A.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: You don't need me to tell you that concern about the global economy is at an all time high, but does the U.S. or Europe pose the most risk?

Our resident financial experts, Ali Velshi and Richard Quest tackle that in today's "Q&A."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD QUEST, HOST, CNN INTERNATIONAL'S "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS": Quest means business and so does my good friend, Ali. We are here together in the CNN Newsroom and around the world. Good day to you, Ali.

ALI VELSHI, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: And to you, Richard. We're here to talk business, travel, and innovation. Nothing is off limits.

So today we're talking about the global economy. A question we've been getting from some of you on Twitter. Specifically, which poses a greater threat to the global economy America or Europe?

QUEST: It is one of the best subjects that we have had so far. This week's question was inspired by many viewers who wanted you and me to talk about the threat of a Greek default. What is happening in the United States? We're going to start with you, Ali. You've got 60 seconds.

VELSHI: All right. Richard, as friendly as you look to our viewers, you folk across the pond pose a greater threat to the global economy than America does. Europe's problems are structural.

Too much actually has to change on the ground. Not where you are, but in countries like Greece, Portugal and Ireland. The U.S. deficit is large, but it is not even close to triggering a sovereign debt crisis.

After the downgrade, global investors continue to think that loaning the U.S. government money is a good bet. Secondly, Richard, this European mess is costing Americans who I will remind you are still the world's best customers, real money in the stock market.

Because American consumers have a greater proportion of our retirement savings directly invested in the market than do many of you, our global brethren. So when Americans feel poor, the whole world feels poor.

Finally, Richard, while the U.S. has serious political problem, they are all centered on a single federal legislative branch in Washington, which compared to your 17 member nations in Europe look like we're all holding hands and singing Kumbaya.

QUEST: Ali, once again, you have deceived yourself. This is the true answer to the question. I don't know. Let's be honest. It is hard to pick a winner in this race to the bottom. Europe and the United States are like Laurel and Hardy perpetually stuck in another fine mess.

But if you ask me which is worse, I'll have to give you the same answer that countless analysts have given me. I just don' know. Sometimes it's Europe with those different countries and characters, contagion, widespread.

Who knows where the next skeleton is going to leap out of the closet? But who really knows if that trumps those headlines in the U.S. drama, deadlines, last minute deals, yes, it may be a little more sensational. They could also be a little more urgent in the long run.

Ali, I don't know. Neither continent is out of the woods. And even more importantly, neither continent has the leadership to do what is needed. Take it on face value. I have to give you the exact answer. Which crisis is worst Europe or the United States? At the moment, I just don't know.

VELSHI: While that was an excellent answer, you simply didn't answer the question, which you cannot do in the next part of this because we're going to bring the voice in.

And he will give you multiple choice, it was built for a guy like you because you didn't answer the straight question. Let's see if you answer the multiple choice, voice?

THE VOICE: Yes, let's see if you, guys, can actually answer the questions. Today's quiz is all about money.

Question number one, countries that provide universal health coverage are trying to control costs. Of the 33 developed nations around the globe, only the United States does not currently provide some form of universal health care.

According to the WHO which of the following countries implemented their universal health plan first? Is it, A, France; B, Germany; C, Israel; or D, the United Kingdom?

Ali? VELSHI: I'm going to go with the U.K. D.

THE VOICE: Incorrect.

VELSHI: What do you mean incorrect? That was a bell. Isn't that correct?

THE VOICE: According to my list, that's wrong. Richard?

VELSHI: Well, then who rang the bell? Bells are supposed to be good.

QUEST: All right, I am going to go with Germany.

THE VOICE: Germany is correct. Germany was the first group starting back in 1941. Norway was the first country ever to attempt universal health care back in 1912.

Question number two. We'll try to get our bells right this time. Ali, try not to make a face about this. We're about to talk sports.

According to "Forbes," the three most valuable sports team in the world in order are Manchester United, the Dallas Cowboys, and the New York Yankees with all of them being valued between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion.

Which of the following teams is also a member of the billion- dollar club? Is it A, Barcelona; B, Ferrari; C, the New York Knicks; or D, the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Richard?

QUEST: I'm going with Barcelona.

VELSHI: I would take that, too. I don't want Barcelona anymore. Barcelona is a ridiculous answer.

THE VOICE: Then go for it, Ali. Let's hear it.

VELSHI: I feel, Richard, that it is question number two so the trick is in now. This is where the trick question is. I'm going to say Ferrari.

THE VOICE: That is correct. Ferrari is another member of the club with just over $1 billion in value. And while the New York Knicks are the highest valued NBA franchise, they are only valued at $655 million.

QUEST: Come on!

VELSHI: Do you know what, Richard? Depending on my intellect has not worked for me in this game for the past several months so I'm switching completely to strategy now.

THE VOICE: That's what you call it, strategy. All right, question number three. Let's talk about raising money for charity. In the 1980s, Band-Aid released, "Do They Know It's Christmas" to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. USA for Africa released "We are the World" to raise money for relief of famine and disease in Africa.

Artists United Against Partite released "Sun City" to protest a partite in South Africa and to support an economic boycott of the country, which of the following bands did not have a member of their group perform on any of the aforementioned song? Is it A, The Beach Boys; B, The Beatles; C, The Rolling Stones; or D, U2?

QUEST: All right, come on, Ali. We're going to show ourselves --

VELSHI: Paul McCartney was involved in all of them. U2 was definitely in involved. Richard?

QUEST: It's got to be "The Beach Boys."

THE VOICE: "The Beach Boys" is correct. None of "The Beach Boys" participated in any of these songs. But as a group they performed at farm aid, a charity to raise money for American farm families.

Well, as they say, gentlemen, time is money. So I must move on to other endeavors.

Congratulations, Richard. Good day, gentlemen. I'm out.

QUEST: Thank you very much.

VELSHI: Thank you very much.

QUEST: Remember, we are here each week. "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS". It's 1800 Greenwich meantime.

VELSHI: Keep the topics coming, by the way. We love them. Send them to our blogs at CNN.com/QMB and at CNN.com/ali. Tell us each week what you want to talk about and we'll see you next week. Have a good one, Richard.

QUEST: Have a good one, Ali.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: It's about 33 minutes past the hour. Let's check on the top headlines and other news that you may have missed.

We're standing by for a White House ceremony. A 23-year-old man from Kentucky set to become the first living Marine awarded the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War.

In 2009, Sergeant Dakota Meyers saved the lives of 13 U.S. troops and 23 Afghan soldiers. Meyers shared a beer with President Obama at the White House yesterday. We will carry the entire ceremony live at 2:45 Eastern Time. House Speaker John Boehner detailed the Republican plan to create jobs today. He called for bipartisan action to liberate America's economy from the shackle of excessive regulation. Higher tax and out of control spending.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE SPEAKER: There are reasonable regulations that protect our children and keep our environment clean. Then there are excessive regulations that unnecessarily increase the cost for consumers and small businesses. And those excessive regulations are making it harder for our economy to create jobs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: And speaking of jobs, the number of people filing for new unemployment benefits has jumped to the highest level since June. According to the Labor Department, weekly jobless benefits applications rose to $428,000.

The week included the Labor Day holiday when applications typically drop because of the short workweek. The economy added zero net jobs in August, the worst showing since September of last year.

Casey Anthony is out of jail and now has to pay for the investigation leading up to her trial. The state of Florida says Anthony must pay $97,000 to law enforcement. That's to cover the cost of the investigation of her daughter's disappearance and the prosecution of the murder trial. CNN is awaiting a response from her attorneys.

A final push for clemency for Troy Davis, convicted of killing a police officer. The Georgia case has drawn international attention. Amnesty International and the NAACP are delivering thousands of petitions today to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Troy Davis is scheduled to be put to death next Wednesday unless the Pardon and Parole Board grants clemency. In the 20 years since Davis' trial, seven of the nine witnesses have recanted.

Coming up, learning how to fight on the way to battle. Taking aim at Gadhafi's last stronghold in the desert. An exclusive report you'll see only on CNN so keep it here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: With Tripoli under their control, Libyan rebels are taking aim at one of Gadhafi's last remaining strongholds deep in the southern Sahara desert.

Despite numerous months of fighting in the north, most of the rebels on the march in the south have received no training in how to fight. But that's not slowing them down or curbing their enthusiasm.

CNN's Ben Wedeman is traveling with them and here is his exclusive report. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A timeless desert scene until a pick-up arrives. The calm and quiet of the Sahara has been disturbed by the arrival of a force heading to loyalist strongholds in the far south.

But this is a fighting force in the making. They're learning literally as they go along. In the early morning cool, Ahmed formerly in Gadhafi's army is giving lessons how to use a rocket propelled grenade launcher.

Everyone gets a chance to shoulder it. Get used to the feel of it. It's only a matter of days at the most before they'll be in battle. Ahmed concedes, it's a tall order to cram months of training into a few hours to the journey to the front.

Of course, of course, he says. But over the next day or two, we'll try to teach them. What follows are more lessons in the art of the heavy machine gun, how to load it, how to fire it and then an anti-aircraft gun.

Not everyone is new at this. The 61-year-old former soldier Mohamed can chant and cheer with the best of them. The plan is to try to negotiate a peaceful surrender in the largest southern city.

All indications so far, however, point to a bitter fight for the south. It could be Gadhafi's last stand, warns the commander. Their biggest concentration is in the south, he tells me. We even have information they want to set up an independent entity to be ruled by all the figures of the old regime.

It is not all about fighting, however. The large group of doctors and nurses has also come along. With trucks and ambulances full of medicine and not just the usual material for battle wounds.

There is a humanitarian side to this mission. Dr. Hatem Abu Bakr was a car dealer in Tripoli before the revolution. He says he made more money selling cars than practicing medicine.

HATEM ABU BAKR, ANTI-GADHAFI FIGHTER: There are two missions. One part of the mission is to keep all the people with us in the front line safe. The other part is now close since one month and I think all is near to zero.

WEDEMAN: Most essential is water. They've brought thousands of bottles. In this heat, dehydration can be deadlier than a bullet. By midday, the force finally starts to move.

(on camera): Now they're finally moving out, but it is still a long way to go more than 300 kilometers to the front lines.

(voice-over): It will be a long, hot, and difficult journey. Ben Wedeman, CNN, in the Sahara Desert, Libya.

(END VIDEOTAPE) KAYE: Another boost for the rebels today, in Tripoli, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged to help in the capture of Gadhafi. Their comments go far beyond NATO's stated mission of just protecting Libyan civilians.

And a reminder here, we are awaiting the Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House. We believe it is just minutes away and we'll be right back with that for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: We now want to take you live to the White House where the president is about to award Marine Dakota Meyer the Medal of Honor. Meyer saved dozens of his comrades. He defied orders to stay back running back into enemy fire multiple times.

But despite that, Dakota calls himself a failure. The nation and the president humbled by Dakota's courage and his own humility will officially recognize Dakota's heroism with America's highest military honor.

He is the first living Marine to receive such an honor from the Afghan or Iraq wars. Barbara Starr, our Pentagon correspondent, and White House correspondent, Brianna Keilar both standing by at this ceremony with us.

Barbara, let me ask you. Just give us the details, if you can, of that day on the battlefield and why he is receiving this Medal of Honor today?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, I want you to visualize it, Randi. The unit is pinned down under fire, under ambush. And Dakota Meyer asks four times to be able to go to the help of his buddies. He is told, no, you cannot leave your post.

Finally, this young Marine disobeys orders. With another Marine gets in a gun truck and they go speeding off. Dakota is in the turret, open, exposed to enemy fire and he starts firing back at the insurgents from this gun turret. He is firing at them at top speed. He is firing at point blank range. He is doing everything he can against orders to go save his buddies. He would wind up being credited with saving some 13 U.S. troops, a number of Afghans.

And then going back into the fire zone one more time to recover the bodies of four U.S. troops killed in action. This is a young man from Kentucky who says, he failed that day because he didn't save everybody.

The president of the United States will disagree. You can bet on that. The country is honoring him right now.

KAYE: I'm sure. Let me turn to Brianna now. Brianna, I understand that he had a beer with the president at the White House on Wednesday. How did that come to be? BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. It's sort of interesting because it was at his request, Randi, as we understand it. We heard from a White House spokesman that in the run-up to this ceremony today, which as you can imagine, takes a lot of coordination.

There was a White House staffer who was talking with Dakota Meyer about this and Meyer said that he would like to have a meeting with the president. And so yesterday, off the patio, right off the oval office, Meyer and President Obama sat down.

They had a beer. They had a talk. We don't know exactly what they talked about, but it was certainly at Meyer's request. And you can see right now, the ceremony now in the east room, is beginning, Randi.

KAYE: Yes, it is beginning. Why don't we let our viewers listen in and we'll listen in along with you.

(INTERRUPTED BY CNN COVERAGE OF A LIVE EVENT)