Grayson Co. teen awarded commendation during Marine Combat Training

GRAYSON COUNTY, Ky. (K105) – A Grayson County teen is being recognized with the most prestigious award a U.S. Marine Corps recruit can earn during Marine Combat Training.

That’s according to a report by K105, which states 17-year-old Owen W. Meredith of Snap has been awarded the U.S. Marine Corps’ Company Honor Graduate commendation for his “superior performance of duty” during Marine Combat Training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, according to the commendation.

According to K105, Meredith graduated from Grayson County High School. His recruiter, Sgt. Matthew Stevens, says he won the award out of between 500 to 600 recruits from six platoons, K105 states, who stated the award is given to the “best overall individual” during Marine Combat Training.

Marine Combat Training is a phase of Marine Corps boot camp, according to K105, and includes a 29-day course with training in skills such as “marksmanship, basic patrols, tactical movement, setting up of defenses, night shooting, clearing rooms, hiking, weapons handling, map training and survival under fire.”

“Private First Class Owen’s skill was unsurpassed and serves as an indicator of his lethality and future success as a Marine Rifleman,” the commendation states. “Private First Class Owen’s initiative, perseverance and total dedication to duty reflected credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United State Marine Corps and United States Naval Service.”

According to K105, the award was the result of Meredith’s “focus and rigorous determination as he trained to expertly protect his country.”

“I am very honored to have been the Honor Graduate at Marine Combat Training,” he told K105. “It’s a memory that will remain with me for the rest of my life. The training took a lot of dedication and was very challenging at times, but I knew I had to keep pushing.”

Meredith is the son of Buck and Carla Meredith.