Military Honors Well Deserved
On April 14th of 2004 CPL. Jason L. Dunham of the USMC was critically wounded while protecting his fellow Marines for the blast of a grenade. I remember reading about this story when it first happened and the story before the story was that the Marine had been discussing hand grenades with is fellow Marines and they felt that by placing your helmet over the grenade and laying on top of it the blast could be contained enough for those involved to survive. CPL. Dunham found out the hard way. He thoughtlessly gave laid his life on the line for his fellow Marines and layed on top of his helmet after placing it on a grenade and after 8 days of care and medical attention he passed.
On January 11, 2007 President George W. Bush presented the Dunham family with the Medal of Honor. While it is not an award that someone would ever truely want to present given the circumstances I am sure President Bush felt sense of pride in the presentation. If I remember correctly the last time the Medal of Honor was awarded was to the two Delta snipers in the Black Hawk Down incident in the 90’s and before that it was Vietnam.
I was not fortunate enough to know this Marine and I can only hope that I can be even half of the person I understand him to be. The Marines he saved that day we lucky in many respects, he saved their lives, but in my opinion having the honor to be around someone that is worthy of a Medal of Honor is a gift.
I am not a Marine and am not required to salute, but Jason I salute you.
Here is a video of the presentation of the Medal of Honor
“Nobody asks to be a hero, it just sometimes turns out that way”
Rest in Peace
CPL. Jason L. Dunham, USMC
10 November 1981 - 22 April 2004
http://jasonsmemorial.org
