Jason Dunham (November 10, 1981 –
April 22, 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. On November 10, 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[2] for his actions on April 14, 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.
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. |