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...

[bootless]

Thank you for working on retrieving the door. I don't know if there's anything I can do, but if I can, I will.

[StarCMC]

If there's anyway I can help, let me know. :-)

[freepersup]

Below, is the address of the base at Al Qa'im, Iraq, where Jason's parent HQ was formerly located. A new marine unit is now on the ground, relieving the unit that relieved Jason's unit. Is that clear as mud? Perhaps a letter writing campaign is in order, petitioning the US Marine Commander to secure the door for proper respect and dispension. FYI, It takes about 2 weeks for mail to reach the forces on the ground in Iraq.


USMC
Al Qa'im, USMC Commander
FOB Al Qa'im (AQ)
APO-AE 09333

[freema]

freepersup posts this:

Below, is the address of the base at Al Qa'im, Iraq, where Jason's parent HQ was formerly located. A new marine unit is now on the ground, relieving the unit that relieved Jason's unit. Is that clear as mud? Perhaps a letter writing campaign is in order, petitioning the US Marine Commander to secure the door for proper respect and dispension. FYI, It takes about 2 weeks for mail to reach the forces on the ground in Iraq. USMC
Al Qa'im, USMC Commander
FOB Al Qa'im (AQ)
APO-AE 09333

This is a wonderful idea. I will add:
National Museum of the Marine Corps
18900 Jefferson Davis Highway
Triangle, VA 22172
Toll Free: 1.800.397.7585

Commandant of the Marine Corps
Headquarters, USMC
Quantico, VA 22134-5030

This is do-able. A request to honor our LadyX was fulfilled beyond expectation by the CO at Parris Island in short order.

[Ajnin]

I often marvel at such sacrifice. I have wondered how it is that one chooses to give one's life in such an infintesimally short amount of time. As I reflectd upon my own Marine Corp carreer I realized it's not about dying. It's about living that a Marine acts in such a way. Because a Marine believes that he will survive whatever the enemy throws at him. Almost every day in the Marines we literally prayed for war, in the form of cadences. What jarhead can forget " 1-2-3-4 everyday I pray for war, 5-6-7-8 burn, kill, mutilate." It wasn't about warmongering. It was about developing the right mindset for war in peace time. Every moment we lived it was about preparing for the eventual moment of engaging the enemy on the battlefield.

I spent eight years in the Corps and never say a day of combat. It seems almost a shameful thing. My pop once told me: "May you never have to go war, but if you do, may you be the first Marine there." I never made it. I lied my ass off to get to GWI, but the brevity of the conflcit left me to simmer under the abject cowardice of the Clinton Administration. I subsequently left the Corps to join the Border Patrol where I have seen more violence in one day than I had seen in eight years in the Marine Corps. Semper Fi!

[superfries]

keep us posted.....something you can tell your gradkids about years from now.

[freepersup]

Here's the reply I've been hoping for...

"The door was returned to the Marines. Thanks."

Tim Richmond
Carpenter General Foreman
KBR Government and Infrastructure - Logcap III
Al Qaim, Iraq APO AE 09333
713-970-5411 (rings in Iraq)
tim.richmond@kbr.com

[freepersup]

Thank you for the encouragement and for the suggestion regarding other potential USMC contact persons or entities.

The quick response time by my former KBR carpenter supervisor was awesome. I am grateful the door was kept secure AND then rightfully returned to the marines on the ground in Al Qa'im. It is now their mission to see to it that the door bearing tribute to Jason finds a proper home.

I am honored to learn of this fine marine, and in his glorious selfless sacrifice for his brothers in arms. SEMPER FIDELIS Jason Dunham. This former Army paratrooper salutes you with the utmost respect.

[freepersup]

From my supervisor in Iraq, came these words today... "The door was returned to the Marines. Thanks."

While it's short on details, the mission was accomplished.

Dang nab it! I meant to get someone to take some pictures.

Thank you for your encouragement. Freepers are the BEST !!!

[freema]

Wonderful! I wonder if it will make its way to the museum? Are you going to follow up to find out?

[freepersup]

I'll send a letter to the USMC, Al Qa'im, Iraq, Camp Commander, and ask about the fate of the 'tribute' door.

Truth be told, originally, the door wasn't something the marines likely gave a second thought to, due to limited time/space constraints in a battle field environment.

I'm not sure what the marines will do with the door.

Believe it or not, in a worst case scenario, a marine officer or NCO for that matter, might make a command decision for the door to be respectfully retired (burned,) the same way our nation's flag is disposed of (properly,) should the care of the door become a burden to the unit in possession. The choice to burn it could possibly outweigh a decision to leave it behind (again.) Of course, the door's subject is now a MOH recipient (posthumously,) and that could impact the door's fate.

We might be placing more importance on the door than the marines are, seeing how they are in the field (hostile area of operations.) It's just the way things are on the ground (priorities.) Not to be a bearer of bad news... ;0)

On the other hand, if a USMC commander in Iraq, starts receiving letters of inquiry from concerned citizens in the USA, about one hollow core mahogany/luan passage door, said door's status may take on even more importance.

Anyone reading this thread is more than welcome to join me in sending the USMC a letter of encouragement regarding the safekeeping of the tribute door to Jason Dunham KIA MOH.

For discussion purposes, where is the best home for the tribute door? W/ Jason's USMC parent unit? W/ USMC museum? W/ Jason's parents? Another location?

[Marine_Uncle]

"While it's short on details, the mission was accomplished."
Marines sure don't screw around.

[freema]

His parents might have it, you know? There's no telling where it is. Why don't you try an initial inquiry, and see what you do or don't find out. It could be at the museum for all we know. If so, it would be nice to know. If not, let's track it!

[freepersup]

ROGER THAT! I sent an e-mail to my immediate supervisor regarding the door, but I also included our camp supervisor (civilian side of the house) to insure the chain of command (again civilian) was aware of what we (the carpenter shop) had saved.

A medal of honor recipient to boot!

To the ladies and gentlemen reading this thread, please avail yourselves to the vast amount of literature regarding Jason Dunham, that exists on the world wide web. Simply put 'Jason Dunham' in an engine search and peruse the WWW.

I repeat, the video at NPR (I know, I know, NPR, S-U-C-K-S/B-L-O-W-S CHUNKS!) has Jason's commander (a USMC captain)recounting the fateful encounter with the scum bag enemy responsible for Jason's death. I'll provide a link after I submit this post to the thread.

[freepersup]

I suspect that the door was tucked away into the carpenter shop, until the caretakers that be, were prompted to do something with it. No fault of theirs, for (not) doing something sooner. We always knew it was a tribute to a USMC KIA.

Honestly, I think they just now acceded possession to the USMC, upon notification that Jason was awarded the MOH. Additionally, including the civilian (side of the house's) camp supervisor, raised the level of awareness, and may have took the decision for disposal out of the immediate caretaker's hands. In other words, directions from on high came down dictating that the door be returned to the military (USMC) post haste.

[Marine_Uncle]

Your efforts obviously are not in vain. My eyeballs are literally swimming about, due to long work day fatigue, so I will keep my response short.
A big Semper Fi to you. And do have a great upcoming day.

[freema]

You're probably right. If you plan to stay on this, and need help, keep me posted?

[freepersup]

I just received another reply to one of the e-mails that I sent to Iraq. Here it is in it's entirety. My message must have went to a stateside address, and then that person conversed with their spouse (who is a former coworker on the ground in Iraq.) A hearty thank you for your keen interest in this thread, and in it's outcome.

Hi Perry,

I wanted to let you know that I let Ernie know about the emails you sent. I heard from him today & he told me the story behind them & the door that was found. Hopefully it will be sent to the family.

Sincerely, Mary

[Marine_Uncle]

Sounds like the desired end result will come to past. The door shall make the trip. Great.

[freema]

I sure hope the door is offered to the family or the museum. This was incredible that you knew the door. Awesome.