Jason Dunham’s parents received his Medal of Honor from President Bush today.
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA, American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2007 – President Bush today presented the Medal of
Honor, the nation’s highest decoration, to the family of Marine Cpl.
Jason Dunham, who died shielding his fellow Marines from a grenade
blast in Iraq in April 2004.
“With
this medal, we pay tribute to the courage and leadership of a man who
represents the best of young Americans,” Bush said before presenting
the medal to Dunham’s family at the White House.
Dunham, who
grew up in Scio, N.Y., was the leader of a rifle squad with 3rd
Battalion, 7th Marines, in Iraq. Dunham’s squad was conducting a
reconnaissance mission in Karabilah on April 14, 2004, when a nearby
convoy returning to base was ambushed. When Dunham’s squad approached
to assist the convoy, an Iraqi insurgent jumped out of a vehicle and
grabbed Dunham by the throat. As Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the
ground, he noticed that the enemy fighter had a grenade in his hand.
Dunham ordered his Marines to move back, and when the enemy dropped the
live grenade, Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, covered the grenade
with it, and threw himself on top to smother the blast.
Dunham
initially survived his wounds, but died eight days later at the
National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., with his mother and
father at his bedside.
“By his selflessness, Corporal Dunham
saved the lives of two of his men and showed the world what it means to
be a Marine,” Bush said.
Dunham is the second servicemember in
the war on terror and the first Marine since the Vietnam War to receive
the Medal of Honor. His mother, father, sister and two brothers were at
the ceremony today, which was attended by Cabinet members, Defense
Department and Marine Corps leaders, members of Congress, past Medal of
Honor recipients, and members of Dunham’s unit.
Bush spoke
about Dunham’s upbringing in upstate New York. Dunham was a star
athlete who was popular and a natural leader. His father, a dairy farm
worker, and his mother, a school teacher, were devoted parents. “He
grew up with the riches far more important than money,” Bush said.
Dunham
joined the Marine Corps on July 31, 2000. It was in the Marines that he
learned honor, courage, commitment and leadership qualities, Bush said.
“As the leader of a rifle squad in Iraq, Corporal Dunham led by the
values he had been taught,” he said. “He was the guy everybody looked
up to; he was a Marine’s Marine who led by example.”
Bush
noted that Dunham’s mother called the Marine Corps her son’s second
family. Now that family is embracing her and the rest of the Dunham
family as they deal with their loss, Bush said.
Since World
War II, more than half of those who have earned the Medal of Honor have
lost their lives in the action that earned it, Bush said. “Corporal
Jason Dunham belongs to this select group,” he said. “On a dusty road
in western Iraq, Corporal Dunham gave his own life so that the men
under his command might live. This morning, it’s my privilege to
recognize Corporal Dunham’s devotion to the Corps and the country and
to present his family with the Medal of Honor.”
White House
THE PRESIDENT: Welcome to the White House.
The
Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor a President can bestow.
The Medal is given for gallantry in the face of an enemy attack that is
above and beyond the call of duty. The Medal is part of a cherished
American tradition that began in this house with the signature of
President Abraham Lincoln.
Since World War II, more than
half of those who have been awarded the Medal of Honor have lost their
lives in the action that earned it. Corporal Jason Dunham belongs to
this select group. On a dusty road in western Iraq, Corporal Dunham
gave his own life so that the men under his command might live. 
This
morning it’s my privilege to recognize Corporal Dunham’s devotion to
the Corps and country — and to present his family with the Medal of
Honor.
I welcome the Vice President’s presence, Secretary of
Defense Bob Gates, Senator Ted Stevens, Senator John McCain, Senator
Craig Thomas — I don’t know if you say former Marine, or Marine.
Marine. Congressman Bill Young and his wife, Beverly; Congressman
Duncan Hunter; Congressman John Kline, Marine; Congressman Randy Kuhl,
Corporal Dunham’s family’s United States Congressman is with us.
Secretary Don Winter; General Pete Pace; General Jim Conway and
Annette; Sergeant Major John Estrada, Sergeant Major of the Marine
Corps.
I appreciate the Medal of Honor recipients who have
joined us: Barney Barnum, Bob Foley, Bob Howard, Gary Littrell, Al
Rascon, Brian Thacker. Thanks for joining us.
I appreciate the
Dunhams who have joined us, and will soon join me on this platform to
receive the honor on behalf of their son: Dan and Deb Dunham; Justin
Dunham and Kyle Dunham, brothers; Katie Dunham, sister; and a lot of
other family members who have joined us today.
I appreciate the Chaplain for the Navy — excuse me, for the Marine Corps. I didn’t mean to insult you.
I
thank Major Trent Gibson — he was Jason Dunham’s commander — company
commander; First Lieutenant Brian Robinson, who was his platoon
commander. I welcome all the Marines from “Kilo-3-7? — thanks for
coming, and thanks for serving.
Long before he earned our
nation’s highest Medal Jason Dunham made himself — made a name for
himself among his friends and neighbors. He was born in a small town in
upstate New York. He was a normal kind of fellow, he loved sports. He
went to Scio Central School, and he starred on the Tiger basketball,
soccer, and baseball teams. And by the way, he still holds the record
for the highest batting average in a single season at .414. He was
popular with his teammates, and that could be a problem for his mom.
You see, she never quite knew how many people would be showing up for
dinner, whether it be her family, or the entire basketball team.
He
grew up with the riches far more important than money: He had a dad who
loved to take his boys on a ride with him when he made his rounds on
the dairy farm where he worked. His mom was a school teacher. She
figured out the best way to improve her son’s spelling was to combine
his love for sports with her ability to educate. And so she taught him
the words from his reading list when they played the basketball game of
“horse.” He had two brothers and a sister who adored him.
He
had a natural gift for leadership, and a compassion that led him to
take others under his wing. The Marine Corps took the best of this
young man, and made it better. As a Marine, he was taught that honor,
courage and commitment are not just words. They’re core values for a
way of life that elevates service above self. As a Marine, Jason was
taught that leaders put the needs of their men before their own. He was
taught that while America’s founding truths are self-evident, they also
need to be defended by good men and women willing to stand up to
determined enemies.
As a leader of a rifle squad in Iraq,
Corporal Dunham lived by the values he had been taught. He was a guy
everybody looked up to. He was a Marine’s Marine who led by example. He
was the kind of person who would stop patrols to play street soccer
with the Iraqi schoolchildren. He was the guy who signed on for an
extra two months in Iraq so he could stay with his squad. As he
explained it, he wanted to “make sure that everyone makes it home
alive.” Corporal Dunham took that promise seriously and would give his
own life to make it good.
In April 2004, during an attack near
Iraq’s Syrian border, Corporal Dunham was assaulted by an insurgent who
jumped out of a vehicle that was about to be searched. As Corporal
Dunham wrestled the man to the ground, the insurgent rolled out a
grenade he had been hiding. Corporal Dunham did not hesitate. He jumped
on the grenade, using his helmet and body to absorb the blast. Although
he survived the initial explosion, he did not survive his wounds. But
by his selflessness, Corporal Dunham saved the lives of two of his men,
and showed the world what it means to be a Marine.
Deb Dunham
calls the Marine Corps her son’s second family and she means that
literally. Deb describes her son’s relationship to his men this way:
“Jay was part guardian angel, part big brother, and all Marine.” She
remembers her son calling from the barracks, and then passing the phone
to one of his Marines, saying, “I’ve got a guy here who just needs to
talk to a mom.” Now it’s the Marines who comfort her. On special days,
like Christmas or Mother’s Day or her birthday, Deb has learned the day
will not pass without one of Jason’s fellow Marines calling to check on
her.
With this Medal we pay tribute to the courage and
leadership of a man who represents the best of young Americans. With
this Medal we ask the God who commands us to love our neighbor as
ourselves to wrap his arms around the family of Corporal Jason Dunham,
a Marine who is not here today because he lived that commandment to the
fullest.
I now invite the Dunhams to join me on the stage. And, Colonel, please read the citation.
(The citation is read. The Medal is presented.) (Applause.)
DoD Photos
Photo captions:
- U.S. Marine Gen. Peter Pace, left, takes a photo with
the Dunham family prior to the start of a Medal of Honor ceremony for
their son and brother, U.S. Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham, during a ceremony
in his honor at the White House, Jan. 11, 2007. Dunham gave his own
life in April 2004 so that the men under his command might live.
Defense Dept. photo by Cherie A. Thurlby
- Dan and Deb Dunham
pause during a Medal of Honor ceremony for their son, U.S. Marine Cpl.
Jason Dunham, at the White House, Jan. 11, 2007. Dunham gave his own
life in April 2004 so that the men under his command might live. The
Dunhams were joined on stage by their children, Justin, Kyle, and
Katie. Defense Dept. photo by Cherie A. Thurlby
- In a White
House ceremony Jan. 11, 2007, President George W. Bush presents the
family of Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham with the Medal of Honor. Dan and Deb
Dunham were joined by their children Justin, Kyle and Katie Dunham in
the ceremony honoring their son’s sacrifice. Defense Dept. photo by
William D. Moss
- President George W. Bush praises the actions
of U.S. Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham during a White House ceremony, Jan.
11, 2007. Dunham, who died in Iraq while protecting two fellow Marines
from a grenade blast in April 2004, is the second Marine to receive the
Medal of Honor since Vietnam. Defense Dept. photo by William D. Moss