Jason Dunham

Infobox Military Person
name= Jason Lee Dunham
born= birth date|1981|11|10
died= death date and age|2004|04|22|1981|11|10
placeofbirth= Scio, New York
placeofdeath= Bethesda, Maryland, died of wounds received in Iraq
placeofburial=


caption= Jason Dunham's official Recruit Training portrait
nickname= Uno
allegiance=flagicon|United States United States of America
branch=United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= 2000-2004
rank= Corporal
commands=
unit=3rd Battalion, 7th Marines]
battles= Iraq War
awards=

Jason Dunham (10 November 1981 – 22 April 2004) was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps who served with 4th Platoon, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (3/7), I Marine Expeditionary Force, 1st Marine Division, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Phillips, 2005.] On 10 November 2006, at the dedication of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, President George W. Bush announced that Dunham would be awarded the Medal of Honor [cite news
url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2348595.php
title=Medal of Honor is first for a Marine since Vietnam
work=Marine Corps Times
date=10 November 2006
accessdate=2006-11-10
author=Gidget Fuentes] for his actions on 14 April 2004 near Husaybah, Iraq. Dunham became the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq, and the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War.

Biography

Jason Dunham was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps from Scio, New York. After completing basic training, he served as a Security Force sentry at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia. In early 2004, he was serving with 4th Platoon, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (3/7), 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. On 14 April 2004, Corporal Dunham was leading a Marine patrol near Husaybah, Iraq, investigating an attack on a Marine convoy. His patrol intercepted a number of cars spotted near the scene of the attack. An individual in one of the vehicles attacked Dunham. During the fighting, the individual dropped a live Mills bomb-type hand grenade. Dunham, to save the rest of his men, threw himself on the grenade, attempting to use his helmet to shield himself and others from the explosion.

Corporal Dunham was severely wounded as a result of the grenade blast and was taken to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He died eight days later, on 22 April 2004 [cite news
first=Michael M.
last=Phillips
title=How Do You Repay A Hero's Sacrifice; Three years ago, a fellow Marine gave his life to save Kelly Miller. It has been a hard road since.
work=The Wall Street Journal
page=A1
date=6 January 2007] . Shortly beforehand, Marine Corps Commandant Michael Hagee presented Dunham with the Purple Heart. General Hagee, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps John L. Estrada and Dunham's parents were at his bedside when he died. [ Garcia, 2004]

Posthumous honors

In 2004, Michael M. Phillips, staff writer for the "Wall Street Journal", wrote an article summarizing Dunham's actions that appeared on page A1, column 1 of the May 25th "Journal". [ cite web
url=http://www.jasonsmemorial.org/art_wsj.pdf
title="In Combat, Marine Put Theory to Test, Comrades Believe Cpl. Dunham's Quick Action In Face of Grenade Saved 2 Lives"
author=Phillips, Michael M.
work=The Wall Street Journal
date=25 May 2004
page=A1
accessdate=2008-03-07|format=PDF Republished on Jason Dunham Memorial Website. ] In 2005, Phillips published, through Broadway Books, "The Gift of Valor: A War Story", which told Dunham's life story.

Shortly after his death, Lieutenant Colonel Matt Lopez, commander of 3/7, along with others in Dunham's chain of command, began the process of nominating the corporal for the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest award for valor in combat.

On 14 March 2006, President George W. Bush signed a bill officially renaming the post office in Dunham's hometown to the "Corporal Jason Dunham Post Office". Kuhl, 2005] He also met with Dunham's family, at which time they gave him a copy of "The Gift of Valor".WHEC-TV News 10, 16 March 2006.]

On 10 November 2006, at the dedication of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, President George W. Bush announced that Corporal Dunham would receive the Medal of Honor, making him the second recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first Marine Corps recipient for actions in Iraq.

President Bush presented Cpl. Dunham's family with the Medal of Honor in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on 11 January 2007. [cite news
url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1565560-2,00.html
title=Iraq: The War Without Honors
work=Time
date=3 December 2006
accessdate=2006-12-04
author=Sally B. Donnelly] [cite news |accessdate=2007-01-09
url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2469028.php
title=Dunham family to get Medal of Honor Thursday |date=8 January 2007
author=John Hoellwarth|work=Marine Corps Times]

On 20 March 2007, it was reported that the Navy's new "Arleigh Burke"-class guided missile destroyer would be named the USS "Jason Dunham", in his honor. In a formal ceremony in Scio on 23 March 2007, Navy Secretary Donald Winter officially announced the naming of the USS "Jason Dunham" (DDG 109). [cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17709451/|title=Destroyer to be named after N.Y. Marine|work=msnbc|date=21 March 2007|author=Associated Press] [cite web
accessdate=2007-05-28|url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=28497
title= Navy Names New Guided-Missile Destroyer USS Jason Dunham
work=Navy newsstand
publisher=United States Navy
date=23 March 2007
id=Story Number NNS070323-25] The keel was laid at a ceremony on 11 April 2008, at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. The ship will be completed in summer of 2009, and should be ready for active duty in 2010.

On 11 April 2007, "The Periscope", the base newspaper for Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, reported that the Marine Corps Security Force Barracks is to be renamed the Cpl. Jason Dunham Barracks in late June 2007. Dunham had served at the base from 2001-2003. [cite news|url=http://www.kingsbayperiscope.com/stories/041207/kin_dunham.shtml|title=Marine Barracks to be renamed for Medal of Honor winner|work=kingsbayperiscope.com|date=11 April 2007|author=MC2(SW) Michael Wiss, Periscope Staff]

In February 2008 Robert Ferrigno dedicated the second book in his "Assassins" trilogy, "Sins of the Assassin", to SFC Paul Smith, Corporal Dunham, and Lt. Michael MurphyFerrigno, 2008] .

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
CORPORAL JASON L. DUNHAM UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
For service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as 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. [Medal of Honor citation, "Marines Magazine".] [ [http://www.mcnews.info/mcnewsinfo/moh/Citation.aspx Cpl. Jason L. Dunham: Medal of Honor] ]

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith, USA — first Medal of Honor recipient from Operation Iraqi Freedom.
*Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, USN — first Medal of Honor recipient from the Operation Enduring Freedom.
*Petty Officer Second Class Michael A. Monsoor, USN — third Medal of Honor recipient from Operation Iraqi Freedom.
*Specialist Ross McGinnis, USA — fourth Medal of Honor recipient from Operation Iraqi Freedom.
*"USS Jason Dunham"

Notes

References

*Phillips, Michael W. [http://www.randomhouse.com/broadway/giftofvalor/photo.html "The Gift of Valor: A War Story"] , New York: Broadway Books, 2005. ISBN 0-7679-2037-6.

*cite news
url=http://www.mcnews.info/mcnewsinfo/moh/Citation.aspx
accessdate=2007-01-11
title=Jason Dunham Medal of Honor citation
journal=Marine Corps News

*cite web
url=http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/20045143251
title="Marines honor corporal's heroic sacrifice"
date=29 April 2004
author=Garcia, Sgt Jose L.
work=Marine Corps News
publisher=United States Marine Corps
accessdate=2006-07-09

*cite web
url=http://kuhl.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=37917
title= Kuhl Bill to honor Dunham passes House: Kuhl bill names post office in Scio after fallen Marine Corporal Jason Dunham
author=Kuhl, John R.
date=19 December 2005
publisher=U.S. Representative John R. "Randy" Kuhl, Jr. , New York's 29th District
accessdate=2006-07-09]

*cite web |url=http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/2004/PR02657.Dunhamcong052704.pf.html
title=Schumer asks President to award Congressional Medal of Honor to Hero NY Marine who died after
work=Press Release
author=Schumer, Senator Charles E.
publisher=Office of U.S. Senator Charles E. Shumer, New York
date=2004-05-27
accessdate=2006-07-09

*cite web
url=http://www.10nbc.com/news.asp?template=item&story_id=18110
title=Post office being renamed to honor fallen war hero
publisher= WHEC-TV News 10 (Rochester, NY)
date=16 March 2006
accessdate=2006-04-30

*cite web
url=http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/6A9F54EACD3677188525722200698195?opendocument
title=First Long War Marine to receive Medal of Honor |id=Story ID#: 20061110141224
author=Dunn, SSgt. Scott
work=Marine Corps News
publisher=United States Marine Corps
date=10 November 2006
accessdate=2006-11-10

*Ferrigno, Robert. [http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=1&pid=586429&er=9781416537656 "Sins of the Assassin"] , Scribner, 2008. ISBN 1416537651.

External links

* [http://zoiiebeanpictures.com/dunham.html Cpl. Jason L. Dunham Documentary.]
* [http://www.jasonsmemorial.org/ Jason L. Dunham Memorial Website] . Retrieved on 2006-07-09.
*cite web
url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4670149
title=Cpl. Jason Dunham's 'Gift of Valor'"
work=All Things Considered
date=27 May 2005
publisher=NPR
accessdate=2006-07-09

*cite web
url=http://www.talkingproud.us/Military061704.html
title="Marines keep me safe"
publisher=Talking Proud
accessdate=2006-07-09 Story of Jason Dunham's life.

*cite web
url=http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/us/2007/01/16/phillips.heidi.kraft.interview.cnn
title=A Hero's Hand
publisher=CNN.com
accessdate=2006-07-17 CNN interview relating to Cpl Dunham
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/destroyers/pages/uss_jason_dunham_ddg_109_page_1.htm MaritimeQuest USS Jason Dunham DDG-109 pages]
*findagrave|16588294 Retrieved on 2007-12-25

Persondata
NAME= Dunham, Jason
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=