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...

[Marine_Uncle]

Am I getting something wrong. I am only reading this post in regards to efforts being made to obtain the door for the family. I am not privy to any info other then what you good folk are providing in these threads.

[freepersup]

Marine_Uncle,

Here's an excerpt from a Marine article, just prior to the decision awarding the medal of honor to Jason. (back on topic) ;0)

freepersup.

"What Corporal Dunham did equates to what a lot of heroes of our past have done to earn the nation's highest honor," explained Sgt. Maj. Wayne R. Bell, 1st Marine Division's sergeant major. "If it were up to me, he'd be put in for the Medal of Honor. From bits and pieces of what I'm hearing, it very well could be.

"He'll be in the history books, like many of our Marines here," Bell added.

Dunham survived his wounds for ten days when his parents, Daniel K. Dunham and Natalie J. Sherwood made the decision to end life support for the Marine. According to Bell, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. John L. Estrada were at Dunham's bedside with his parents at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland when he died.

"That in itself speaks volumes knowing that no matter who it is - general officer or a corporal - his act alone warrants a visit from the Commandant," Bell said. "I know that the Marines who are alive today, because of what Corporal Dunham did, will never forget that Marine as long as they live.

[Marine_Uncle]

Heart wrenching to read about such a young hero giving his life for his buddies. But such men will always be amoungst us. They serve with such honor.