Jason Dunham Explained

Jason Dunham
Nickname:Uno (English: "One")
Birth Date:10 November 1981
Birth Place:Scio, New York, United States
Death Place:Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Placeofburial:Fairlawn Cemetery
Scio, New York
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Marine Corps
Serviceyears:2000–2004
Rank:Corporal
Unit:Marine Corps Security Force Battalion
3rd Battalion, 7th Marines
Battles:Iraq War
Awards:Medal of Honor
Purple Heart

Jason Lee Dunham (November 10, 1981 – April 22, 2004) was a corporal in the United States Marine Corps who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions while serving with 3rd Battalion 7th Marines during the Iraq War. While on a patrol in Husaybah, his unit was attacked and he deliberately covered an enemy grenade to save nearby Marines. When it exploded Dunham was gravely injured and died eight days later.

Early life and education

Jason Dunham was born on November 10, 1981, in Scio, New York, and resided there with his parents, Dan and Deb, and his three siblings, two brothers and a sister. He graduated from Scio High School in 2000,[1] having played basketball for his high school team.[2]

Military service

Dunham joined the United States Marine Corps in 2000. After graduating from recruit training on October 27 from Golf Company Platoon 2092, he served as a Security Force sentry at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia until 2003.[2]

In early 2004, Dunham was serving as a squad leader with 4th Platoon, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force.[3] His unit was based in Al-Karābilah.

On April 14, 2004, the battalion commander's convoy came under attack near Husaybah, Iraq, and 4th Platoon was dispatched on patrol to investigate. Dunham and his squad intercepted a number of cars spotted near the scene of the attack, which the patrol detained to search for weapons.[4] When the squad approached a white Toyota Land Cruiser and discovered AK-47s, the driver exited and attacked the Marines in an attempt to flee. Dunham responded by closing in for hand-to-hand combat to subdue him. During the fighting, the individual dropped an armed Mills 36M hand grenade.

Dunham, to save the rest of his men, deliberately threw himself on the grenade, attempting to use his PASGT helmet to shield himself and others from the explosion,[2] warning the others to "watch his hands."[4] Dunham, the insurgent, and two other Marines nearby were all wounded by grenade fragments.

Dunham was severely wounded by the grenade blast, and was immediately evacuated. Within days, he arrived at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, in a coma, where he was being treated for his injuries. After being diagnosed with brain damage and deemed unlikely to recover, he was taken off life support eight days later, on April 22, 2004.[4] [5] Shortly beforehand, Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Michael Hagee, presented Dunham with the Purple Heart. Dunham's parents were at his bedside when he died.[6]

In 2004, Michael M. Phillips, staff writer for The Wall Street Journal, wrote an article summarizing Dunham's actions that appeared on page A1 of the May 25 edition.[7] In 2005, Phillips published The Gift of Valor: A War Story, which told Dunham's life story.[3]

Honors and awards

In addition to the Medal of Honor and his other military decorations, Dunham has also received other honors:

Military decorations

Dunham's awards include:[2]

Medal of HonorPurple HeartCombat Action Ribbon
Navy Meritorious Unit CommendationMarine Corps Good Conduct MedalNational Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 1 campaign starGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalNavy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Sharpshooter Rifle marksmanship badgeExpert Pistol marksmanship badge

Medal of Honor

Shortly after his death, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Lopez, Dunham's commanding officer, began the process of nominating him for the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest award for valor in combat. 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 the Iraq War and the first Marine recipient for actions since the Vietnam War.[8]

President Bush presented Dunham's family with the Medal of Honor in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on January 11, 2007.[9] [10]

Citation

For service as set forth in the following citation:

USS Jason Dunham

On March 20, 2007, the Navy reported that a new guided missile destroyer would be named, in his honor. In a formal ceremony in Scio on March 23, 2007, Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter officially announced the naming of DDG-109 after Dunham.[11] [12] The keel was laid at a ceremony on April 11, 2008, at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.[13] The ship was christened on August 1, 2009, with Dunham's mother Debra acting as the ship's sponsor.[14] [15]

Among family members and officials present at the christening, also in attendance were Dunham's Kilo Company commander, Major Trent Gibson, as well as Sergeant Bill Hampton and Corporal Kelly Miller, whose lives he saved, and retired General Hagee. A piece of Dunham's helmet is encased in the mast.[16] [17] The Jason Dunham was commissioned on November 13, 2010.[18] [19] The ship's galley, named "Jason's Dugout", is decorated with memorabilia from Dunham's favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees.[20]

Other namesakes

The Marine Corps Security Force Barracks at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay was renamed the Cpl Jason Dunham Barracks in late June 2007.[21]

The Cpl Dunham room is located at the Corporals Course at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina.

A Crucible warrior's station at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina and Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California was named in his honor. When recruits arrive at this station, they will read Cpl Dunham's Medal of Honor citation, and then perform ground-fighting techniques reflecting those Dunham used to defend himself and his fellow Marines leading to his nomination for the Medal of Honor.

A bill to rename the Scio post office, located at 4422 West Sciota Street in Scio, New York, as the Corporal Jason L. Dunham Post Office was submitted to the House of Representatives in December 2005 by Congressman Randy Kuhl. The bill was immediately passed in the House with support from all New York delegation members. With the support of both New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton, the bill passed the Senate. On March 14, 2006, President Bush signed the bill.[22] He also met with Dunham's family, who gave him a copy of The Gift of Valor.[23]

See also

References

Specific
General

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Remembering Medal of Honor recipient Jason Dunham. November 16, 2010. Marine Corps News. United States Marine Corps. March 8, 2015. October 7, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121007154506/http://www.marines.mil/unit/hqmc/Pages/RememberingMedalofHonorrecipientJasonDunham.aspx. dead.
  2. Web site: Corporal Jason L. Dunham, USMC (deceased). Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps History Division. March 8, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615094720/http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Dunham_JL.htm. June 15, 2011. dead.
  3. Phillips, 2005.
  4. Dunham: A Life of Honor. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718042509/http://player.theplatform.com/ps/player/pds/GbvL4E_KCd?pid=LFGLg7lLbFKZhncEX_hEaPH4_9Bg1RMs. dead. July 18, 2011. video documentary. United States Marine Corps. March 8, 2015.
  5. News: Michael M.. Phillips. 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. A1.
  6. Web site: Marines honor corporal's heroic sacrifice. March 8, 2015. Garcia. Sgt Jose L.. Marine Corps News. United States Marine Corps. June 29, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110629174457/http://www.marines.mil/unit/1stmardiv/Pages/2004/Marines%20honor%20corporaland%2039;s%20heroic%20sacrifice.aspx. dead.
  7. News: In Combat, Marine Put Theory to Test, Comrades Believe Cpl. Dunham's Quick Action in Face of Grenade Saved 2 Lives . Phillips . Michael M. . The Wall Street Journal . A1 . January 6, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150406051837/http://www.jasonsmemorial.org/art_wsj.pdf . April 6, 2015 . Republished on Jason Dunham Memorial Website.
  8. News: Medal of Honor is first for a Marine since Vietnam. Marine Corps Times. March 8, 2015. Gidget. Fuentes. https://web.archive.org/web/20120205133443/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2348595.php. February 5, 2012. dead.
  9. Iraq: The War Without Honors. https://web.archive.org/web/20061210225739/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C1565560-2%2C00.html. dead. December 10, 2006. TIME. March 8, 2015. Sally B.. Donnelly.
  10. News: March 8, 2015. Dunham family to get Medal of Honor Thursday. John. Hoellwarth. Marine Corps Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20120612083136/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2469028.php. June 12, 2012. dead.
  11. News: Destroyer to be named after N.Y. Marine. NBC News]. Associated Press. March 8, 2015. Associated Press.
  12. Web site: Navy Names New Guided-Missile Destroyer USS Jason Dunham. Navy newsstand. United States Navy. March 8, 2015. Story Number NNS070323-25. June 30, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080630161709/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=28497. dead.
  13. Web site: Legacy lives aboard USS Jason Dunham. Gams. PFC Michael T.. Marines Magazine. United States Marine Corps. March 8, 2015. October 29, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141029132536/http://marinesmagazine.dodlive.mil/2010/03/25/legacy-lives-aboard-uss-jason-dunham/. dead.
  14. Web site: Navy Christens Newest Arleigh Burke-Class Ship Jason Dunham. Navy News Service. March 8, 2015. June 29, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110629184113/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=47354. dead.
  15. Lugo, LCpl A.J.. USS Jason Dunham. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718042527/http://player.theplatform.com/ps/player/pds/GbvL4E_KCd?pid=VZAdKtOJhcdYyYoB1ZW1Arp86FXPDede. dead. July 18, 2011. video newscast. United States Marine Corps. Bath, Maine. March 8, 2015.
  16. News: Ship named for MoH recipient to be christened. July 29, 2009. Navy Times. March 8, 2015.
  17. Web site: Putting the pieces in their place; Cpl. Dunham's legacy lives on. Gams. PFC Michael T.. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. United States Marine Corps. March 8, 2015.
  18. Web site: [{{NVR url|id=DDG109}} Jason Dunham]. Naval Vessel Register. March 8, 2015.
  19. Web site: Navy to Commission New Guided-Missile Destroyer Jason Dunham. Navy News Service. March 8, 2015. March 5, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120305112626/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=57131. dead.
  20. Web site: USS Jason Dunham commissioned, legacy lives on. Shea. Sgt Jimmy D.. United States Marine Corps. March 8, 2015.
  21. News: Marine Barracks to be renamed for Medal of Honor recipient. Kings Bay Periscope. United States Navy. MC2 (SW) Michael Wiss. March 8, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070928140155/http://www.kingsbayperiscope.com/stories/041207/kin_dunham.shtml. September 28, 2007.
  22. Web site: Kuhl Bill to honor Dunham passes House: Kuhl bill names post office in Scio after fallen Marine Corporal Jason Dunham. Randy Kuhl. Kuhl. John R.. New York's 29th congressional district. United States House of Representatives. March 8, 2015. dead. https://archive.today/20051227001130/http://kuhl.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=37917. December 27, 2005.
  23. [WHEC-TV]

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