Posted on 11/12/2010 12:13:18 PM PST by Dubya
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2010 – Final preparations are under way in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for the commissioning tomorrow of the Navy’s newest guided-missile destroyer, to be named honoring Marine Corps Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, who received the Medal of Honor posthumously for heroism in Iraq.
Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos is slated to deliver the keynote address during the ceremony at Port Everglades, and Debra Dunham will serve as sponsor of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer named for her late son.
Navy Cmdr. M. Scott Sciretta, USS Jason Dunham’s first commanding officer, and his 276-member crew also will participate in the ceremony.
Dunham died April 22, 2004, eight days after throwing himself and his Kevlar helmet onto an enemy grenade to protect two fellow Marines in Karabilah, Iraq.
The 22-year-old Marine, who served with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, based at Twentynine Palms, Calif., was leading a rifle squad during a reconnaissance mission, when he and his fellow Marines responded to an attack on their commander’s convoy. Dunham wrestled an insurgent to the ground, and jumped onto a live grenade the insurgent had dropped to smother the blast.
Then-President George W. Bush announced on Nov. 10, 2006 -– which would have been Dunham’s 25th birthday and corresponds with the Marine Corps’ birthday -– that Dunham would become the first Marine to be awarded the nation’s highest military honor since the Vietnam War. Bush presented the Medal of Honor to Dunham’s family during a Jan. 11, 2007, White House ceremony.
“With this medal, we pay tribute to the courage and leadership of a man who represents the best of young Americans,” he said. “By his selflessness, Corporal Dunham saved the lives of two of his men and showed the world what it means to be a Marine.”
Two months later, the Navy Department announced that it would name a guided-missile destroyer in Dunham’s honor.
Designated DDG 109, the ship was christened April 1, 2009, at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. The 9,200-ton, 509-footwarship left for its new Fort Lauderdale home port in early October.
In the lead-up to tomorrow’s ceremony, crew members have been conducting community outreach projects throughout the South Florida community, and members of Major League Baseball’s Florida Marlins toured the ship Nov. 9.
Tonight, the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers will host the crew as the team takes on the Minnesota Wild in Sunrise, Fla. In addition to being present for the ceremonial puck drop, the sailors will be recognized from their seats at BankAtlantic Center during the game’s second period, Sunrise Ports and Entertainment officials announced.
The Navy’s 59th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Jason Dunham will be able to operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups and underway replenishment groups, Navy officials said. It is equipped with the Aegis combat system, vertical launching system, advanced anti-submarine warfare system, advanced anti-aircraft missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Semper Fi ...
Brave guy. Too bad he wasn’t in the position to get the insurgent on top of the grenade instead of himself and his helmet.
Caption at source, my emphasis:
Sgt. Maj. Michael Templeton, Dunham’s former company first sergeant, carefully clutches Medal of Honor recipient Cpl. Jason Dunham’s dress blue uniform as Maj. Trent A. Gibson, Dunham’s former company commander, stands at the position of attention during the christening of the Navy destroyer bearing Dunham’s name Aug. 1 at the Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Dunham’s parents donated his dress blue uniform to be displayed on the ship’s quarterdeck.
John 15:13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Semper Fi Marine.
From the source:
The Shield:
The colors dark blue and gold represent the United States Navy. The two chevronels in base recall Corporal Dunham’s rank. The scarlet pale represents the Marine Corps and refers to the trouser stripe worn by Non Commissioned Officers. The Marine Corps Non Commissioned Officers sword on the stripe is point down, signifying Cpl Dunham’s sacrifice of his life to protect his troops. The helmet of antiquity recalls the service traditions of brotherhood which hold true today and recalls the incident of enemy attack on Cpl Dunham’s squad during which he used his helmet to contain a grenade and covered it with his body to protect his squad at the cost of his own life. The purple detail on the helmet refers to the Purple Heart Medal awarded Cpl Dunham. The distinctive shield shape is that used on the state arms of New York, Cpl Dunham’s home state. The gold mullet in dexter chief signifies the loss of Cpl Dunham to his service and his family. The gold border denotes the unity and cohesion of Marine Corps service members which characterize the force and clearly influenced Cpl Dunham’s action in defense of his troops.
The Crest:
The decorations awarded to Corporal Dunham are represented along with the eagle, globe and anchor insignia of the United States Marine Corps; the inverted mullet symbolizes the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest decoration for valor awarded to Cpl Dunham for his sacrifice in protecting his squad, and the Combat Action Ribbon, awarded to him along with the Purple Heart Medal, which is referenced on the antique helmet appearing on the shield.
The scroll under the shield reads:
SEMPER FIDELIS SEMPER FORTIS
I had avoided tearing up this whole thread, until you just had to post that.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a 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.
Thanks for the photo and the background.
Corporal Jason L. Dunham was born on 10 November 1981 in Scio, New York. The date may seem insignificant to those who don't know its history. The ones who do know its significance celebrate this day - faithfully - each year. November 10th is the United States Marine Corps birthday... a birthday that Jason Dunham shares.
SEMPER FIDELIS = Always Faithful
SEMPER FORTIS = Always Brave
May God bless and protect the many Sailors who will serve aboard USS DUNHAM, may He bring them home safely though they sail in harm's way.
The ladies are Liberty and Justice
Thank you for letting us know.
My monitor just became really blurred. I’m gonna have to check it out after I wipe this liquid running down my cheek.
A true hero.
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