Meri was wounded four times during the battle while serving as a platoon commander in north-west Russia in 1941. In August 1941, he was awarded a Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union for organizing the defense of the headquarters of the 22nd Estonian Territorial Rifle Corps when the German army broke through the lines near Dno in July 1941. In reality, the defense was commanded by captain Arnold Isotamm, but he was not deemed to be suitable for the decoration, as he was not a member of the Communist Party and had been an officer of the Estonian Army.
Meri's bravery during the battle in north-west Russia in 1941 earned him four injuries while serving as a platoon commander. He received a Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union in August 1941 for his leadership role in defending the headquarters of the 22nd Estonian Territorial Rifle Corps against the German army's advance near Dno in July 1941. However, it was actually captain Arnold Isotamm who led the defense, but he was not considered worthy of the decoration due to his non-Communist Party affiliation and prior service as an Estonian Army officer.