In a stunning act of bravery, Marine Sgt. Brett D. Meil shielded a fellow Marine from a live grenade blast during a training mishap at Camp Pendleton, California, saving the junior Marine’s life while putting his own at risk.
On June 13, 2023, while overseeing live grenade training at the School of Infantry – West, Sgt. Meil demonstrated remarkable courage and quick thinking, leading to him being awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the highest non-combat honor in the Department of the Navy.
The incident occurred as Sgt. Meil was instructing a junior Marine on how to handle an M67 fragmentation grenade. During the lesson, the student accidentally released the grenade’s safety lever, initiating the fuse, while still holding onto the explosive. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Meil tried to guide the Marine to throw the grenade, but the junior Marine froze in panic.
Thinking fast, Meil grabbed the grenade from the Marine’s hand and attempted to throw it toward the designated target area. However, the grenade struck an interior wall and bounced back toward them, landing dangerously close.
Without hesitation, Meil threw his body over the student, pulling him close and using his own body as a shield. The grenade detonated just feet away, sending shrapnel flying in all directions. While Meil absorbed the brunt of the blast, suffering injuries from the shrapnel, the other Marine walked away with only minor wounds.
Despite his injuries, Meil’s immediate concern was for the safety of his student. According to the Marine Corps, Meil “assessed the health and condition of the Marine he was responsible for” before calling for medical assistance. He only sought treatment for himself after ensuring that his fellow Marine was safe and receiving care.
In a ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Meil was recognized for his heroism. “Staff Sgt. Meil performed exactly the way that we ask combat instructors to,” said Col. Patrick B. Bryne, commanding officer of SOI-West. “He identified that there was a dangerous situation, he assessed it, and immediately acted exactly appropriately to address the danger and protect the student.”
Sgt. Meil’s selfless actions join the ranks of other Marines recently awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. Marine Cpl. Spencer Collart was posthumously honored for his efforts to save two pilots after an Osprey crash in August 2023, tragically losing his life in the process. Likewise, Marine Sgt. Andrew Gomez received the medal for rescuing a woman from a burning vehicle in New Jersey in June 2023.
