Honoring the brave: Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham.Cpl. Jason L. Dunham was born on the Marine Corps birthday, Nov. 10, 1981. He was a proud Marine who likely could have avoided his deployment to Iraq, but voluntarily extended his enlistment to stay with his brothers-in-arms. For his fellow Marines he paid the ultimate sacrifice, shielding them from an exploding grenade in Iraq.On Nov. 10, 2006, President Bush recognized Dunham by announcing that he would receive the nation's highest decoration for valor valor a rodenticide no longer marketed because of toxicity in horses causing dehydration, abdominal pain, hindlimb weakness, inappetence, fishy smell in urine. Called also N-3-pyridyl methyl N1-p-nitrophenyl urea. , the Medal of Honor Medal of Honor highest American military decoration for wartime gallantry. [Am. Hist.: Misc.] See : Bravery . It would have been the young Marine's 25th birthday. His mother and father received the award at the White House on Jan. 11. On April 14, 2004, Dunham was serving near the Syrian border in western Iraq. While on patrol, he approached a suspicious vehicle and was attacked by an insurgent INSURGENT. One who is concerned in an insurrection. He differs from a rebel in this, that rebel is always understood in a bad sense, or one who unjustly opposes the constituted authorities; insurgent may be one who justly opposes the tyranny of constituted authorities. . As the insurgent began choking Dunham, two Marines approached to help. Dunham's last words Last words are a person's final words before death. For a list of well known last words, see or use the link at right. Last words may refer to:
The blast seriously wounded A casualty whose injuries or illness are of such severity that the patient is rendered unable to walk or sit, thereby requiring a litter for movement and evacuation. See also evacuation; litter; patient. all three Marines. Dunham was found face down with shrapnel lodged in his head. The blast completely destroyed his helmet. Eight days later, Dunham died at the National Naval Medical Center The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, also known as the Bethesda Naval Hospital, is considered the flagship of the United States Navy's system of medical centers. at Bethesda, with his mother and father by his side. He was 22. "By giving his own life, Cpl. Dunham saved the lives of two of his men and showed the world what it means to be a Marine," said President Bush, during the award announcement. Dunham's commanding officers from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, investigated his actions and nominated him for the Medal of Honor. Dunham's parents, Dan and Debra Dunham of Scio, N.Y., said they are comforted by the outpouring of support they've received. "The public now knows what Jason did," said Debra. "We still have a loss, but the gift that Jason gave helps us go on. The good part is that we get to make new memories and bring new people into the family; the bad news is there will be no new memories with Jason." Dunham is the first Marine to earn the Medal of Honor for service in Iraq. On April 4, 2003, Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith posthumously earned the medal for organizing a defense that held off a company-sized attack on more than 100 vulnerable coalition soldiers in Iraq. In that action, Smith manned a .50 caliber machine gun in an exposed position until he was mortally wounded. Editor's note Editor's Note (foaled in 1993 in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1992 U.S. Champion 2 YO Colt Forty Niner, who in turn was a son of Champion sire Mr. Prospector and out of the mare, Beware Of The Cat. Trained by D. : Information for this story was provided by Marine Staff Sgt. Scott Dunn Scott Allen Dunn (born May 23, 1978 in San Antonio, Texas) is a pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. After graduating from Winston Churchill High School in San Antonio, he attended the University of Texas at Austin. After college, he was drafted by the Reds. , Headquarters Marine Corps. CITATION: The President of the United States The head of the Executive Branch, one of the three branches of the federal government. The U.S. Constitution sets relatively strict requirements about who may serve as president and for how long. in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to CORPORAL JASON L. DUNHAM UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS United States Marine Corps (USMC) Separate military service within the U.S. Department of the Navy (see U.S. Navy), charged with providing marine troops for seizure and defense of advanced bases and with conducting operations on land and in the air in connection with 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 a Rifle Squad Leader, 4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced), Regimental Combat Team A regimental combat team was a provisional major infantry unit of the United States Army during the Second World War and Korean War. The regimental combat team, or "R.C.T.", was formed by augmenting a regular infantry regiment with smaller tank, artillery, combat engineer, 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 A Combined Anti-Armor Team is a platoon in a weapons company originally employed to combat armored vehicles with heavy machine guns and TOW missiles, in addition to providing security for convoys. CAAT platoons are one form of employment for heavy weapons in an infantry unit. 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 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. |
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