Bristol Palin’s Engagement to Dakota Meyer: 5 Things About Palin’s Fiance

Meet the man who's soon to be part of the Palin family.

ByABC News
March 16, 2015, 2:52 PM
Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Dakota Meyer is pictured on Oct. 22, 2014 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Dakota Meyer is pictured on Oct. 22, 2014 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Stephen Brashear/AP Photo

— -- Bristol Palin, the daughter of 2008 Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, had big news this weekend: She’s engaged to Marine Sergeant Dakota Meyer. The couple is excited about their engagement and have been sharing the happy news on social media.

Palin, 24, described her kind of man on her blog in December: “He smells like wood. Loves being out in nature. Wears a full beard, leather boots, denim, plaid - and of course, flannel." No word of whether Sgt. Meyer smells like mahogany -- and he doesn't have a beard.

But here are a few things to know about Palin’s soon-to-be hubby:

First Living Marine to Receive Medal of Honor for Iraq, Afghanistan Service

In 2011, Marine Corps Meyer, then 21, was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Obama.

He is the third living recipient of the highest military honor for military members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Kentucky native received the award for his service on September 8, 2009, when he charged into a kill zone in Afghanistan to save 36 Afghan and US service members.

PHOTO: President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Honor to former Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyer, 23, from Greensburg, Ky. on Sept. 15, 2011.
President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Honor to former Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyer, 23, from Greensburg, Ky. on Sept. 15, 2011.

Enjoyed a Beer With President Obama

A day before he was presented with the Medal of Honor, Meyer got to kick it with the commander-in-chief.

Meyer requested the meeting and Obama obliged. The two shared a White House brewed Honey ale beer on the patio outside the Oval Office, where they chatted about the future and Meyer asked the president for advice, Meyer told a local paper.

"President Obama is a successful guy, so I asked him 'What would you do if you were 23 years old and in my shoes right now?'" Meyer recalled. "He said, 'Get an education. You've got to have something you can fall back on.' And then he went into 'Don't make any rash decisions. Take your time.'"

PHOTO: In this handout provided by the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama (L) enjoys a beer with Dakota Meyer on the patio outside of the Oval Office, Sept. 14, 2011 in Washington.
In this handout provided by the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama (L) enjoys a beer with Dakota Meyer on the patio outside of the Oval Office, Sept. 14, 2011 in Washington.

Challenged ISIS on Social Media

When the FBI warned last year of a potential ISIS attack against the U.S. military and urged members to scrub their social media accounts of posts that might attract unwanted attention from violent extremists, Meyer did the opposite.

He tweeted a picture of him lounging on the couch holding a sword and reading “Handbook for Marine NCOs,” and invited ISIS to his “book club.”

"I refuse to let these idealistic, radical bullies change the way that I live," Meyer told ABC News. "I'm not saying I want ISIS to go attack the military. I'm speaking on behalf of myself.”

Flirted With a Run For Congress

Upset by the government shutdown in 2013, Meyer posted this intriguing tweet:

In an interview with Marine Corps Times, he revealed that he was interested in running for Congress.

“I love Americans and I believe in this country...I really appreciate the overwhelming support and encouragement, and I hope to someday serve America again,” Meyer told the Marine Corps Times.

More recently, he told The Daily Beast, “If someday down the road, if people feel like that’s the way to go, I’ll look into it more seriously.”

Surely his future mother-in-law can provide some insight to campaigning.

Loves Racing

Adjusting to life after service, Meyer found happiness in car racing (and more recently, off-road racing) and a way to fill the void left by knowing he can’t return to the battlefield, according to ESPN.

"I can't ever go over there and fight. I can never do anything like that again, like I want to do,” Meyer told ESPN. I came home and didn't think I'd ever enjoy anything again, ever be happy.”