A former Hawaii Marine corporal will be presented the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama on Sept. 15 for his courage during an Afghanistan firefight, the White House said today.

Dakota Meyer, who was previously with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment at Kaneohe Bay, will receive the nation’s highest military award for his actions while serving as a member of Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8 in Kunar Province on Sept. 8, 2009.

The White House said Meyer, 23, will be the third living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. He and his family will join the president at the White House for the recognition.

The Kentucky man ran through intense gunfire in a three-sided ambush in an attempt to rescue three fellow Marines and a Navy corpsman who were pinned down.

He had been wounded by shrapnel in the elbow on two previous attempts to rescue the Americans using an armored vehicle that was repelled both times by bullets and rocket-propelled grenades.

He found the four U.S. service members dead, but while still under fire, Meyer carried their bodies back to a Humvee with the aid of Afghan troops.

Meyer was recommended for the medal in November.

In 2010, he completed his active duty commitment and currently serves in the Inactive Ready Reserve of the Marine Corps Reserve as a sergeant.