Jason Dunham

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Jason Lee Dunham
November 10, 1981(1981-11-10) – April 22, 2004 (aged 22)
  
Jason Dunham's official Recruit Training portrait
Nickname Uno
Place of birth Scio, New York
Place of death Bethesda, Maryland, DOW received in Iraq
Allegiance Flag of the United States United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service 2000-2004
Rank Corporal
Unit 3rd Battalion 7th Marines
Battles/wars Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards Medal of Honor
Purple Heart
Combat Action Ribbon

Jason Dunham (November 10, 1981 – April 22, 2004) was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps who served with 4th Platoon, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (3/7), I Marine Expeditionary Force, 1st Marine Division, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.[1] On November 10, 2006, at the dedication of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, President George W. Bush announced that Dunham would be awarded the Medal of Honor[2] for his actions on April 14, 2004 near Husaybah, Iraq. Dunham became the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq, and the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Jason Dunham was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps from Scio, New York. After completing basic training, he served as a Security Force sentry at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia. In early 2004, he was serving with 4th Platoon, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (3/7), 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. On April 14, 2004, Corporal Dunham was leading a Marine patrol near Husaybah, Iraq, investigating an attack on a Marine convoy. His patrol intercepted a number of cars spotted near the scene of the attack. An individual in one of the vehicles attacked Dunham. During the fighting, the individual dropped a live Mills bomb-type hand grenade. Dunham, to save the rest of his men, threw himself on the grenade, attempting to use his helmet to shield himself and others from the explosion.

Corporal Dunham was severely wounded as a result of the grenade blast and was taken to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He died eight days later, on April 22, 2004[3] . Shortly beforehand, Marine Corps Commandant Michael Hagee presented Dunham with the Purple Heart. General Hagee, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps John L. Estrada and Dunham's parents were at his bedside when he died.[4]

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

CORPORAL
JASON L. DUNHAM
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

For service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Rifle Squad Leader, 4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced), Regimental Combat Team 7, First Marine Division (Reinforced), on 14 April 2004. Corporal Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah, Iraq, when they heard rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire erupt approximately two kilometers to the west. Corporal Dunham led his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards the engagement to provide fire support to their Battalion Commander's convoy, which had been ambushed as it was traveling to Camp Husaybah. As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced, they quickly began to receive enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered his squad to dismount their vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several blocks south of the ambushed convoy. Discovering seven Iraqi vehicles in a column attempting to depart, Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the vehicles to search them for weapons. As they approached the vehicles, an insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham. Corporal Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground and in the ensuing struggle saw the insurgent release a grenade. Corporal Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines to the threat. Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation, Corporal Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. In an ultimate and selfless act of bravery in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.[5][6]

[edit] Posthumous honors

President George W. Bush presents the Medal of Honor to the family of Jason Dunham during a ceremony in the East Room Thursday, January 11, 2007.
President George W. Bush presents the Medal of Honor to the family of Jason Dunham during a ceremony in the East Room Thursday, January 11, 2007.

In 2004, Michael M. Phillips, staff writer for the Wall Street Journal, wrote an article summarizing Dunham's actions that appeared on page A1, column 1 of the May 25th Journal.[7] In 2005, Phillips published, through Broadway Books, The Gift of Valor: A War Story, which told Dunham's life story.[1]

Shortly after his death, Lieutenant Colonel Matt Lopez, commander of 3/7, along with others in Dunham's chain of command, began the process of nominating the corporal for the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest award for valor in combat.

On March 14, 2006, President George W. Bush signed a bill officially renaming the post office in Dunham's hometown to the Corporal Jason Dunham Post Office.[8] He also met with Dunham's family, at which time they gave him a copy of The Gift of Valor.[9]

On November 10, 2006, at the dedication of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, President George W. Bush announced that Corporal Dunham would receive the Medal of Honor, making him the second recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first Marine Corps recipient for actions in Iraq.

SecNav Donald Winter in Scio, NY announcing the naming of the USS Jason Dunham, March 23, 2007.
SecNav Donald Winter in Scio, NY announcing the naming of the USS Jason Dunham, March 23, 2007.

President Bush presented Cpl. Dunham's family with the Medal of Honor in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on January 11, 2007.[10][11]

On March 20, 2007, it was reported that the Navy's new Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer would be named the USS Jason Dunham, in his honor. In a formal ceremony in Scio on March 23, 2007, Navy Secretary Donald Winter officially announced the naming of the USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109).[12][13] The keel was lain at a ceremony on April 11, 2008, at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. The ship will be completed in summer of 2009, and should be ready for active duty in 2010.

On April 11, 2007, The Periscope, the base newspaper for Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, reported that the Marine Corps Security Force Barracks is to be renamed the Cpl. Jason Dunham Barracks in late June 2007. Dunham had served at the base from 2001-2003.[14]

In February 2008 Robert Ferrigno dedicated the second book in his Assassins trilogy, Sins of the Assassin, to SFC Paul Smith, Corporal Dunham, and Lt. Michael Murphy[15].

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Phillips, 2005.
  2. ^ Gidget Fuentes. "Medal of Honor is first for a Marine since Vietnam", Marine Corps Times, November 10, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-10. 
  3. ^ Phillips, Michael M.. "How Do You Repay A Hero's Sacrifice; Three years ago, a fellow Marine gave his life to save Kelly Miller. It has been a hard road since.", The Wall Street Journal, January 6, 2007, p. A1. 
  4. ^ Garcia, 2004
  5. ^ Medal of Honor citation, Marines Magazine.
  6. ^ Cpl. Jason L. Dunham :: Medal of Honor
  7. ^ Phillips, Michael M. (May 25, 2004). "In Combat, Marine Put Theory to Test, Comrades Believe Cpl. Dunham's Quick Action In Face of Grenade Saved 2 Lives". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved on 2008-03-07. Republished on Jason Dunham Memorial Website.
  8. ^ Kuhl, 2005
  9. ^ WHEC-TV News 10, March 16, 2006.
  10. ^ Sally B. Donnelly. "Iraq: The War Without Honors", Time, December 3, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-04. 
  11. ^ John Hoellwarth. "Dunham family to get Medal of Honor Thursday", Marine Corps Times, January 8, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-01-09. 
  12. ^ Associated Press. "Destroyer to be named after N.Y. Marine", msnbc, March 21, 2007. 
  13. ^ Navy Names New Guided-Missile Destroyer USS Jason Dunham. Navy newsstand. United States Navy (March 23, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  14. ^ MC2(SW) Michael Wiss, Periscope Staff. "Marine Barracks to be renamed for Medal of Honor winner", kingsbayperiscope.com, April 11, 2007. 
  15. ^ Ferrigno, 2008

[edit] See also

United States Marine Corps Portal

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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