Bush Presents Medal of Honor to Fallen Marine

American Forces Press Service ^ | Sgt. Sara Wood, USA

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2007 – President Bush today presented the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest decoration, to the family of Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham, who died shielding his fellow Marines from a grenade blast in Iraq in April 2004.

“With this medal, we pay tribute to the courage and leadership of a man who represents the best of young Americans,” Bush said before presenting the medal to Dunham’s family at the White House.

Dunham, who grew up in Scio, N.Y., was the leader of a rifle squad with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, in Iraq. Dunham’s squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah on April 14, 2004, when a nearby convoy returning to base was ambushed. When Dunham’s squad approached to assist the convoy, an Iraqi insurgent jumped out of a vehicle and grabbed Dunham by the throat. As Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground, he noticed that the enemy fighter had a grenade in his hand. Dunham ordered his Marines to move back, and when the enemy dropped the live grenade, Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, covered the grenade with it, and threw himself on top to smother the blast.

Dunham initially survived his wounds, but died eight days later at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., with his mother and father at his bedside.

“By his selflessness, Corporal Dunham saved the lives of two of his men and showed the world what it means to be a Marine,” Bush said.

Dunham is the second servicemember in the war on terror and the first Marine since the Vietnam War to receive the Medal of Honor. His mother, father, sister and two brothers were at the ceremony today, which was attended by Cabinet members, Defense Department and Marine Corps leaders, members of Congress, past Medal of Honor recipients, and members of Dunham’s unit.

Bush spoke about Dunham’s upbringing in upstate New York. Dunham was a star athlete who was popular and a natural leader. His father, a dairy farm worker, and his mother, a school teacher, were devoted parents. “He grew up with the riches far more important than money,” Bush said.

Dunham joined the Marine Corps on July 31, 2000. It was in the Marines that he learned honor, courage, commitment and leadership qualities, Bush said. “As the leader of a rifle squad in Iraq, Corporal Dunham led by the values he had been taught,” he said. “He was the guy everybody looked up to; he was a Marine’s Marine who led by example.”

Bush noted that Dunham’s mother called the Marine Corps her son’s second family. Now that family is embracing her and the rest of the Dunham family as they deal with their loss, Bush said.

Since World War II, more than half of those who have earned the Medal of Honor have lost their lives in the action that earned it, Bush said. “Corporal Jason Dunham belongs to this select group,” he said. “On a dusty road in western Iraq, Corporal Dunham gave his own life so that the men under his command might live. This morning, it’s my privilege to recognize Corporal Dunham’s devotion to the Corps and the country and to present his family with the Medal of Honor.”

Related Sites:
Heroes in the War on Terror -- Cpl. Jason Dunham

[Eric_WA]

Whatever our views on the war are, we can all agree that heroes like this keep us the great nation that we are. The values of true courage, bravery, and altruism are alive and well today, as shown by the actions of this man. What an amazing story! God bless him and his family!

[knighthawk]

Indeed. We have much to thank them for.

[bunches]

"For some reason my screen is has become blurry..."

So is mine. I also listened to "Mansions of the Lord" and now I can't see at all.

May Jesus take Jason into his precious home. He has an honored place among heroes of the past.

I don't know how Jason's Mom held up so well at the ceremony. I'm not sure I would have made it through.

God Bless our President, our military and Jason's family.

[SueRae]

Difficult to type through the blurry keyboard and screen. What a selfless act of bravery this man did. Yes, we would all prefer to have him home alive. I hope and pray for comforth for his family and I am humbled by the bravery and sacrifice of such a wonderful soul so that I may enjoy a comfortable life. God Bless you and your family, Jason Dunham. I won't ever forget.

[OCCASparky]

I get the feeling that President Bush could award a dozen more CMH's and yet NONE of them would badmouth him like Randy Shugart's father did to Bubba Clinton.

To these folks, they KNOW the battle we're involved in is just, it is essential, and more importantly, we're not going to abandon our troops.

At least until the Dems cut and run.

[newzjunkey]

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13 KJV

R.I.P. Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham

[rippingmyhairout]

This young man is a true American hero.

[jveritas]

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

God bless all our brave troops who are fighting for our freedom and our way of life. God rest the souls of all our brave heroes who sacrificed their lives for our freedom and our way of life.

[unionblue83]

God Bless this family and Keep the Soul of this brave young man close to your heart, O Lord.

[jveritas]

Now after reading through the thread I found out that we both thought about the same verse in the Gospel of John.

[The Mayor]

TAPS


Welcome Home

[cake_crumb]

He was Hubby's cousin.

Rest in peace in the arms of God, Corporal Dunham. You represented the ideals tht mankind SHOULD aspire to.

And at least President Bush pronounced his name right: DUN-um, rather than DUN-ham, like others had.

[pleikumud]

And meanwhile the Democrats threaten to cut funding for our troops, because they want President Bush and the U.S. to lose the war. They think that would help them get a Democrat elected president in 2008.

[katieanna]

Oh, this is hard. This is very hard. What a wonderful young man.

Everybody please continue to pray for our troops.

[AprilfromTexas]

My thought exactly...

[toldyou]

From the Brits:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=BLOGDETAIL&grid=P30&blog=yourview&xml=/news/2007/01/12/ublview12a.xml

[Sword_Svalbardt]

Semper Fi Marine!

[Sword_Svalbardt]

Fair Winds and Following Seas!

[Trajan88]

From the Lone Star State... thank you Jason Dunham! My thoughts are with you and your family.

p.s. Thought for a sec. that was a photo of of the late Yankee slugger Roger Maris.

[sarasmom]

Well, all I can say is following that link dried most of my tears, and reaffirmed my deep respect for men like Corporal Dunham, and for President Bush.

Prayers sent to the family of Corporal Dunham.
I did not know him, but I share their grief for his death, as a fellow citizen, and a veteran.