Hero - Marine dies saving comrades; nominated for Medal of Honor

[SR-25]

Jason Dunham stepped into the role of protector long before he ever donned a Marine uniform.

As a teen-ager, he put himself between a friend and an adversary to protect his buddy during a fight. As a brother, he would warn his little sister to watch out for boys. As a man, he dreamed of becoming a state trooper - so long as work didn't take him too far from home, where he could keep an eye on those he loved most.

Dunham died as he had lived, said the minister at his burial last May: "Caring more for others than himself."

He has been nominated for the Medal of Honor, given for extraordinary valor without regard to one's safety.

On April 14, the 22-year-old corporal from Scio, N.Y., was patrolling a vehicle checkpoint near Husaybah, Iraq, when a man leapt from a car and snatched Dunham by his throat. As Dunham wrestled with his attacker, he apparently spotted a grenade in the Iraqi's hand and shouted a warning to other Marines rushing to his aid.

Marine officials would later conclude that Dunham dived onto the explosive and covered it with his helmet to shield his comrades. He died a week later at a U.S. hospital, his parents by his side. His mother, Deb, held one hand. His father, Dan, clasped the other.

"He never opened his eyes," his mother said.

Dunham is among several Americans in the Iraq war who gave their lives to save another. Marine Sgt. Kirk Straseskie, 23, of Beaver Dam, Wis., drowned after he jumped into a canal to rescue victims of a helicopter crash. Army Sgt. Jaror Puello-Coronado, 36, of Pocono Summit, Pa., was hit by an out-of-control truck after he pushed another soldier out of its path.

Dunham is the first person in this conflict to be recommended for the nation's highest military honor, according to Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. In a letter asking President Bush to approve the Medal of Honor nomination, Schumer noted that Dunham's "unbelievable bravery and selflessness" saved the lives of at least two other Marines.

"I can imagine no clearer a case of an individual soldier exhibiting the ideals that the Congressional Medal was established to honor."

Dunham's mother says they were ideals her son displayed all his life.

"He was a hero before this," she said. "It didn't take this for us to find that out."

[brooklyn6]

Wow , he deserves the honor

[Field_Sailor]

Semper Fidelis.

There is no greater Love than this, that a Man lay down His life for His Friends.
God

[USMCRET6391]

"Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there,
Eighty are just targets,
Nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle.
Ah, but the one,
One is a warrior,
And he will bring the others back.

Heraclitus

Semper Fi MARINE

[Vulture6]

Good post, SR-25.

For other articles and stories on Marines like Cpl Dunham, check out the "News from the front" topic and the "Stuff that didn't make the mainstream news" thread.

[SR-25]

Thanks Vulture.

[Hoss68]

This Marine died testing out a theory he had discussed with other Marines before this incident. It was his theory that the helmet could take most of the impact of a grenade, protecting everyone else around him from taking the full impact. In theory he was right, but not right enough. Unlike anyone else I have ever heard of, he survived, although unconscious and eventually died. He tried for them and himself.

Semper Fidelis Marine, you've earned this honor.

[LCpl Lamm]

God bless him.

[Rusty24]

He definately has my vote

[bravo six]

*salute*

[AngelBear]

God Bless him...

[sand flea001]

May He Rest In The Arms Of His Protector For Eternity, Amen