Corporal Jason L. Dunham

Corporal Jason Dunham was born on November 10, 1981, in Scio, New York. At the age of 18, Dunham joined the United States Marine Corps on July 19, 2000. On April 14, 2004, Corporal Dunham and his squad heard explosions and advanced towards an ambush site. While in route they start to take enemy RPG fire. Corporal Dunham quickly stops the HUM-Vee’s and they take cover. Corporal Dunham led one of his fire teams on foot several blocks south of the ambushed convoy. He notices seven Iraqi vehicles attempting to escape. Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the vehicles to search them for weapons. One particular white Toyota LandCruiser gets their attention and was stopped. Private Kelly Miller comes up along the passenger side and spots RPGs and AK 47s in the backseat. As he approached the S.U.V., the driver jumped out and attacked Dunham. To subdue the driver, Dunham knees the man in the chest and takes him to the ground for hand-to-hand combat. Privates Bill Hampton and Kelly Miller rush to aid Dunham. Miller places his left hand on Corporal Dunham’s back to keep his balance. Dunham sees something and immediately alerted his fellow Marines to the threat, by shouting, “No, no, watch his hand!” During the struggle, the insurgent released a live hand grenade. Miller and Hampton, unaware of the grenade, notice Corporal Dunham had his Kevlar helmet on the ground. In an act of extraordinary heroism, without hesitation, Dunham immediately covered the grenade with his helmet and threw himself on top of the live grenade, covering it with his own body. As the grenade explodes, it blows Hampton and Miller to the other side of the street. As a result of the explosion, Dunham absorbed the brunt of the explosion and shielded his Marines from the blast, Which saved the lives of Privates Bill Hampton and Kelly Miller. Due to the severity of his injuries from the grenade blast, Dunham was promptly evacuated and transported to the landing zone, where he is medevac’d to a field hospital in Al-Qa’im. Corporal Dunham is eventually airlifted to an Army hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, and then flown to Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. There, He remained in a coma, and despite the medical team's efforts, it was determined that he was unlikely to recover. On April 22, 2004, with his parents and General Michael Hagee, at his bedside, Corporal Dunham succumbed to his injuries. Jason Dunham was only 22 years old. Before his passing, Dunham was presented with the Purple Heart to honor his bravery and sacrifice. Dunham was laid to rest at the Bath National Cemetery in Bath, New York. On January 11, 2007, Corporal Jason Dunham was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. He was the first soldier to receive the prestigious Medal during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the first marine, since Vietnam. President George W. Bush presented the Medal of Honor to Corporal Dunham's family in the East Room of the White House, commemorating his selfless acts of bravery and sacrifice. Corporal Jason Dunham received numerous other military honors and decorations, which reflect his exceptional service and dedication, as well as various military installations, facilities, and organizations have been named in his memory. In an ultimate act of selflessness, Corporal Jason Dunham sacrificed his life to save his fellow Marines. His courageous spirit and extraordinary bravery have left an indelible impact on the Marine Corps and the nation. As a result, he is honored with numerous accolades and commemorations, ensuring that his legacy will be remembered in the annals of American military history for generations to come.