Bush Bestows Medal of Honor on New York Marine Who Fought in Iraq

Washington Post ^ | 10 November 2006 | Leef Smith and Daniela Deane

[VaMarVet]

President Bush marked Veteran's Day Friday by dedicating the new National Museum of the Marine Corps and by bestowing the country's highest military honor posthumously on a Marine from New York who saved the lives of two other Marines by throwing himself onto a live grenade.

"As long as we have Marines like Cpl. Dunham, America will never fear for her liberty," Bush said about Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, who died from wounds he received near Husaybah, Iraq, in April 2004 after engaging in hand-to-hand combat with an insurgent. "As long as we have this fine museum, America will never forget the sacrifice." Dunham, a high school athlete from Scio, N.Y., would have been 25 years old Friday, the 231st birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. Bush said Dunham was "born to be a Marine."

He said Dunham, 22 years old at the time, first threw his helmet onto the grenade then jumped on it himself "to protect his fellow Marines." He called Dunham "the toughest Marine, but the nicest guy."

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Michael Hagee presented Dunham with the Purple Heart at his bedside shortly before he died at Bethesda Naval Hospital with his parents at his side eight days after he was wounded in Iraq.

Today, Bush awarded Dunham the Medal of Honor at the museum ceremony. Wiping away a tear, he called the Marine's death "a loss that can never be replaced." Dunham's parents were at the ceremony...

[Brian Allen]

<< The Commander in Chief, honoring and weeping for a fallen hero today.... >>

Thank you, President Bush.

[ohioWfan]

Indeed.

(I love the Chesterton quote in your tagline!)

[freepersup]

Well I'll be damned... I had no idea about the heroics of Jason Dunham until I read this post.

I first saw Jason Dunham's name written on a barracks passage door in Al Qa'im, Al Anbar Province, Iraq. It's a train station... and one of the many buildings in the complex housed US Marines.

The particular door I speak of had a tribute drawn on it and Jason's fellow Marines had written superlative comments about, and to Jason. Crossed sabers adorned the top of the face of the door, and various squad/platoon members had signed personal epitaphs to Jason using black marker (likely a Sharpie.)

We took the door down to our work area (carpenter shop) due to ongoing renovations in the barracks, and there it sat... (last I seen of it.) A RIP was underway (relief in place) and the barracks had been jammed full of US Marines (previously.) Our task was to prepare the bldg. for new occupants.

Due to a previously housed US Marine contracting a form of menningitis, the bldg.was undergoing sanitization and renovation. That's how the door fell into our hands. We were cannibalizing many of the doors for their respective hardware, and in some instances, often reusing the doors that were servicable or repairable elsewhere.

Based on what the door's poignant story told, I felt that the door should somehow find it's way back to the USA and into the hands of the USMC unit that Jason belonged to.

FWIW, I was employed with KBR as a carpenter in Iraq, from April to September, 2006. A dear friend of mine back in the USA, came down with leukemia, prompting me to redeploy to PHX, AZ, to assist him in his fight for his life. Prior to working in Iraq, I worked as a carpenter and performed QC duties at a concrete batch plant (with KBR,) for 15 months in Kandahar, Afghanistan, (May04-Aug05.)

I'll be contacting my former supervisor to see about getting the door stateside, providing it is still intact and in the possession of the carpenter shop in Al Qa'im. I'm guessing that either the family of Jason or his parent Marine unit should be the caretaker of the door.

FYI, The 1st MAR DIV, 1st BTN, 7th REG, was the command unit at Al Qa'im when I called the place home. They had replaced Jason's unit prior to my arrival.

[DMZFrank]

Another incredible tale of heroism by one of our bravest laying down his life for his buddies and us. To the MSM NEVER MIND!!!

[freema]

Ping

[ohioWfan]

PING! Have you seen this?? God BLESS our troops!

[Mo1]

The Commander in Chief, honoring and weeping for a fallen hero today....

If I hear another lib tell me the President doesn't care .. it will take everything in me, not to punch them

Thank you for the ping ohioWfan

God Bless and prayers to all our fallen heros and their families

[superfries]

It appears you have a calling.....I pray for your friend....get that door back where it belongs :) What a story!

[Marine_Uncle]

As I wipe a tear away, I conclude it would be difficult for me to take any other stance, then what you said.
But yet. There are those amoungst us that really do know what this nation stands for in it's principals long fought for in the blood of so many heros, and some fine statesmen over the years that have attempted to jolt the people back to our heritage and reason for existing.
As Jules Vernes a long time wrote ... There is hope in God's time.
Let us stay strong who want America reclaimed close to what it was like say during and just after WWII era.
Let us even more deeply understand the concept Saint Paul admonished his followers with, to keep the good fight.
Not wavering, but standing fast, despite the urge to just give up.
And may the Lord of Host bless all our military folk who sign up with the knowledge they may have to enter battle, and put their lives on the line.
Truely. This Marine exemplifies what the Marine Corps. is all about. May his loved ones have their grief removed over time, and replaced with the peace of mind that this Marine truely served his country with HONOR.

[Diver Dave]

I'm a military veteran, but Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, is a hero. I reserve my sharpest salute for him and his kind.

Well said, Brother. Well said.

I join you in that salute.

[2111USMC]

"This Marine exemplifies what the Marine Corps. is all about."

You summed it up in one sentence Marine_Uncle.

Outstanding job Cpl. Dunham. RIP

[Candor7]

After what took place in this country on Tuesday, I have to sadly conclude that we, as a nation, are no longer worthy of being served by such men.>>>>>>>>>

YOU ARE RIGHT!!!!

We will NEVER forget Dunham.

[RWB Patriot]

And yet they continue to risk their lives for our freedom, which only shows that our boys in uniform represent the true standards of America.

[Marine_Uncle]

"You summed it up in one sentence Marine_Uncle."
After spending time on visits to Parris Island and Camp Lejeune, welcoming home Marines from their Iraq deploy , how could I not in my heart sum it up in this way.
Semper Fi PS. I felt like a young man in my prime during those visits. And even had the opportunity to do four full military chin ups in the PT building to emphasize to some who where having problems making the score, that they could do it if an old 58 year old grey haired guy could do it. My nephew was asked to spend some time at the PT building to give them a pep talk, and I asked if I could enter the building with him, then had to butt in, and prove the point if I could do it, they most certainly could. I often wonder how many just might have been a bit inspired by an old civilian making the four chin ups on their bar, to choose to become Marines and not go home.
I feel I did a tiny contribution to the Corps. in welding kids into becoming fine young men, Marines, the few, the proud. God bless them.

[ohioWfan]

It's not just libs saying that, Mo. I encountered one on this forum just yesterday.

Would that my fist could have gone through cyberspace.......

[Brian Allen]

<< I love the Chesterton quote in your tag-line! >>

Thank you. Me, too.

Keep it simple, Simple, works for me.

(I am, thank God, a very simple man.)

[ohioWfan]

Tis a gift to be simple..........:)

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Gulp. Thank God our country still produces such men.

[Brian Allen]

<< 'Tis a gift .... >>

Amen.

[TheGunny]

Dont you think thats just a little over the top? Im a little disheartened...but come on Joe, youre still worthy:o)