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Scio Marine had jumped in front of grenade
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By ANTHONY CARDINALE
News Staff Reporter
BuffaloNews.com
4/26/2004
Cpl. Jason Dunham of Allegany County jumped in front of a hand grenade to save the lives of two fellow Marines in Iraq on April 14.
Dunham, 22, of Scio, died Thursday in Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. His death brought to eight the number of Western New York servicemen to die since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. Two other Marines were wounded but are recovering.
"All I can say is, this ain't nothing that I wouldn't expect of my son, because that's the kind of person he was," his father, Daniel Dunham, an Air Force veteran, said Sunday. Dunham read from documents received from the military about the circumstances surrounding his son's fatal injuries in Karbala, about 60 miles southwest of Baghdad.
"Preliminary reports are that an Iraqi hostile (fighter) departed a stopped vehicle with a hand grenade. When he deployed the hand grenade, Cpl. Dunham put himself between the grenade and his fellow Marines. The two Marines who witnessed the event were also medevaced, so the battalion is still gaining details."
Dunham began his second deployment in Iraq in September after extending his enlistment to serve as a squad leader with another Marine unit. He enlisted in the Marines after graduating from Scio Central School in June 2000. He was scheduled to complete his service in July.
"Jason's been my hero since the day he was born," his father said. "All my kids are. They never had to do anything to prove that to me."
The funeral will be scheduled later this week after the body arrives home.
Survivors, in addition to his parents, include two brothers, Justin, 21, of Butler, Pa., and Kyle, 15; a sister, Katie, 11; and his grandparents, Patricia Layton of Amity, Murray and Linda Dunham of Arkport, Gerald and Roberta Kinkead of Ridgeway, Pa., and Bernie and Sandy Jackson of Wellsville.
###
Marine dies with parents at his bedside
By Rick Davis
The Desert Sunbrown
April 27th, 2004
A corporal who last week became the 30th service member from Twentynine Palms to die in the Iraq war suffered his fatal injuries when he jumped in front of a hand grenade in an attempt to save the lives of his battalion mates, the fallen Marine’s father said Monday.
Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, who was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq, was injured critically April 14 when struck in the head by shrapnel from a grenade explosion during a confrontation with Iraqi hostile fighters near the city of Karbala, 60 miles southwest of Baghdad.
The 23-year-old Dunham was airlifted to a hospital in Germany, then to Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. He died Thursday with his parents at his bedside. His death was announced Monday afternoon by the Department of Defense.
"All I can say is this isn’t nothing that I wouldn’t expect of my son because that’s the kind of person he was,"Daniel Dunham, his father, said by telephone from Jason’s hometown, Scio, N.Y., a town of 1,914 in southwestern New York.
Daniel Dunham said information regarding his son’s death came from documents supplied by the Defense Department.
He said the documents indicated the grenade was thrown by a suspected Iraqi insurgent and two other Marines who witnessed the incident were wounded, but are recovering.
The news of Dunham’s death came the same day another Marine from his battalion was buried in his hometown.
Funeral services were held Monday for Lance Cpl. Ruben Valdez in San Diego, Texas. Valdez was killed April 17 in Iraq, three days after Dunham suffered his wounds.
An Air Force veteran, Daniel Dunham said Jason, one of three sons, enlisted in the Marines following high school graduation in June 2000 because it seemed like a good fit.
"He’s a little more rugged than me and needed to go where the rugged went," he said. "We’re all very strong about the military being good for young kids, for teaching discipline and responsibility. Jason’s been my hero since he was born. All my kids are. They never had to do anything to prove that to me."
Dunham, whose military occupational specialty was machine gunner, first served in Iraq last year while assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms.
He was transferred to another Twentynine Palms-based unit,3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, last fall and deployed with it to Iraq in February.
Daniel Dunham said he understood his son had extended beyond his July expiration of enlistment in order to be assigned duty as a squad leader this time.
"Jason was my son, and also my friend," said Debra Dunham, Jason’s mother. "We loved him deeply and will miss him very much."
-- Changed title from winner to Recipient.
Posted : 2004-04-30 12:23
Dunham dove onto the grenade before it exploded
Dunham, 22, died just over a week ago from wounds he sustained April 14 in Iraq.
A report from the Marine Corps said Dunham was commanding a check point near Karbala when a man got out of a car and tried to flee. Dunham tackled the man, who then pulled a pin from a hand grenade. Dunham dove onto the grenade before it exploded, the Marines reported. Two other Marines were injured.
George T. Curtis (RIP. 9/17/2005)
Posted : 2004-05-02 13:26
Topic starter
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/F420EFCFDEFA5E1385256E87002EF42D?opendocument
Marines honor corporal's heroic sacrifice
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification Number: 20045143251
Story by Sgt. Jose L. Garcia
CAMP AL QAIM, Iraq(April 29, 2004) -- Recruits at the Corps' two recruit training depots will know Cpl. Jason L. Dunham. They will know that the 22-year-old Marine lived up to the Corps' largest legends and laid down his own life to save those of his Marines.
Dunham, a machine gunner for Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment was memorialized by his battalion April 29th here. A crowd of more than 500 Marines, sailors and soldiers gathered under a dark and cloudy sky for a memorial service to pay their last respects to a brave hero.
Dunham, from Scio, N.Y., died from his wounds April 24. Ten days earlier, the Marine dove on top of a grenade, absorbing nearly all the blast with his own body to save his fellow Marines.
"His was a selfless act of courage to save his fellow Marines," said Sgt. Maj. Daniel A. Huff, sergeant major for 3rd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment. "This generation of Marines is as good as any generation we've ever had in the Corps."
Dunham was manning a vehicle checkpoint near Husaybah after a convoy was ambushed April 14. He observed car pull up and a man jump from the vehicle, sprinting away. Dunham - in full combat gear - chased the man down, tackling him to the ground.
Other Marines came to assist in the apprehension when the terrorist pulled a pin from a hand grenade. Dunham dove onto the grenade, taking the blast into his own body, saving the lives of his Marines. Dunham suffered serious wounds, along with two other Marines. But were it not for his actions, all three might have died.
"He new what he was doing," said Lance Cpl. Jason A. Sanders, 21, from McAllester, Okla., and a mortar man with Company K. "He wanted to save Marines' lives from that grenade."
Another mortar man with the company, Lance Cpl. Mark E. Dean, 22, from Owasso, Okla., described Dunham as an unselfish Marine. Dunham's enlistment was to end in June, but he voluntarily extended his contract to join his Marines.
"We told him he was crazy for coming out here," Dean explained. "He decided to come out here and fight with us. All he wanted was to make sure his boys made it back home."
"The only way to honor him is in his own way," said Capt. Trent A. Gibson, commanding officer for Company K. "We must continue to do our duty, take care of our Marines, lead by example and take the fight to the enemy."
Dunham dreamed of joining the Los Angeles Police Department after his tour.
He was born Nov. 10, 1981 and joined the Marine Corps July 31, 2000. The Marine completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. He joined 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment in September 2003, serving with 4th Platoon as a machine gunner.
Huff said commanders with the battalion are still awaiting eyewitness statements from Marines before determining at what level they will recommend Dunham for a decoration.
"What Corporal Dunham did equates to what a lot of heroes of our past have done to earn the nation's highest honor," explained Sgt. Maj. Wayne R. Bell, 1st Marine Division's sergeant major. "If it were up to me, he'd be put in for the Medal of Honor. From bits and pieces of what I'm hearing, it very well could be.
"He'll be in the history books, like many of our Marines here," Bell added.
Dunham survived his wounds for ten days when his parents, Daniel K. Dunham and Natalie J. Sherwood made the decision to end life support for the Marine. According to Bell, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. John L. Estrada were at Dunham's bedside with his parents at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland when he died.
"That in itself speaks volumes knowing that no matter who it is - general officer or a corporal - his act alone warrants a visit from the Commandant," Bell said. "I know that the Marines who are alive today, because of what Corporal Dunham did, will never forget that Marine as long as they live.
"Corporal Dunham is everybody's hero," Bell added. "He sacrificed his life so his Marines could continue the mission."
"God made something special when he made Jason," Dean said, "It was a privilege and honor to know him. It's sad he is gone but he is living it up in heaven and I'm happy for that."
Posted : 2004-05-03 08:35
Marines honor corporal's heroic sacrifice
For All -
I received the following forwarded story today from a friend of mine who is currently on active duty in the Marine Corps. I thought that you would all enjoy reading about a Marine who recently made the ultimate sacrifice and gave his life in order that his fellow Marines could live. Freedom isn't free.
Semper Fi,
Rog
----------
From: OLeary LtCol Thomas J
To: OLeary LtCol Thomas J
Subject: RE: Semper Fi
Date: Thu, May 6, 2004, 8:19 AM
Semper Fidelis,
TJ O'Leary
LtCol USMC
Community Plans & Liaison Office
MCB Camp Pendleton
(760) 725-6513
DSN 365-
Fax (760) 725-5555
May we always continue to remember those who selflessly gave their lives for us.
>Marines honor corporal's heroic sacrifice
>Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
>Story Identification Number: 20045143251
>Story by Sgt. Jose L. Garcia
>
>
>
>CAMP AL QAIM, Iraq(April 29, 2004) -- Recruits at the Corps' two recruit
>training depots will know Cpl. Jason L. Dunham. They will know that the
>22-year-old Marine lived up to the Corps' largest legends and laid down his
>own life to save those of his Marines.
>
>Dunham, a machine gunner for Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment
>was memorialized by his battalion April 29th here. A crowd of more than 500
>Marines, sailors and soldiers gathered under a dark and cloudy sky for a
>memorial service to pay their last respects to a brave hero.
>
>Dunham, from Scio, N.Y., died from his wounds April 24. Ten days earlier,
>the Marine dove on top of a grenade, absorbing nearly all the blast with his
>own body to save his fellow Marines.
>
>"His was a selfless act of courage to save his fellow Marines," said Sgt.
>Maj. Daniel A. Huff, sergeant major for 3rd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment.
>"This generation of Marines is as good as any generation we've ever had in
>the Corps."
>
>Dunham was manning a vehicle checkpoint near Husaybah after a convoy was
>ambushed April 14. He observed car pull up and a man jump from the vehicle,
>sprinting away. Dunham - in full combat gear - chased the man down, tackling
>him to the ground.
>
>Other Marines came to assist in the apprehension when the terrorist pulled a
>pin from a hand grenade. Dunham dove onto the grenade, taking the blast into
>his own body, saving the lives of his Marines. Dunham suffered serious
>wounds, along with two other Marines. But were it not for his actions, all
>three might have died.
>
>"He new what he was doing," said Lance Cpl. Jason A. Sanders, 21, from
>McAllester, Okla., and a mortar man with Company K. "He wanted to save
>Marines' lives from that grenade."
>
>Another mortar man with the company, Lance Cpl. Mark E. Dean, 22, from
>Owasso, Okla., described Dunham as an unselfish Marine. Dunham's enlistment
>was to end in June, but he voluntarily extended his contract to join his
>Marines.
>
>"We told him he was crazy for coming out here," Dean explained. "He decided
>to come out here and fight with us. All he wanted was to make sure his boys
>made it back home."
>
>"The only way to honor him is in his own way," said Capt. Trent A. Gibson,
>commanding officer for Company K. "We must continue to do our duty, take
>care of our Marines, lead by example and take the fight to the enemy."
>
>Dunham dreamed of joining the Los Angeles Police Department after his tour.
>
>He was born Nov. 10, 1981 and joined the Marine Corps July 31, 2000. The
>Marine completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris
>Island, South Carolina. He joined 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment in
>September 2003, serving with 4th Platoon as a machine gunner.
>
>Huff said commanders with the battalion are still awaiting eyewitness
>statements from Marines before determining at what level they will recommend
>Dunham for a decoration.
>
>"What Corporal Dunham did equates to what a lot of heroes of our past have
>done to earn the nation's highest honor," explained Sgt. Maj. Wayne R. Bell,
>1st Marine Division's sergeant major. "If it were up to me, he'd be put in
>for the Medal of Honor. From bits and pieces of what I'm hearing, it very
>well could be.
>
>"He'll be in the history books, like many of our Marines here," Bell added.
>
>Dunham survived his wounds for ten days when his parents, Daniel K. Dunham
>and Natalie J. Sherwood made the decision to end life support for the
>Marine. According to Bell, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W.
>Hagee and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. John L. Estrada were
>at Dunham's bedside with his parents at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland
>when he died.
>
>"That in itself speaks volumes knowing that no matter who it is - general
>officer or a corporal - his act alone warrants a visit from the Commandant,"
>Bell said. "I know that the Marines who are alive today, because of what
>Corporal Dunham did, will never forget that Marine as long as they live.
>
>"Corporal Dunham is everybody's hero," Bell added. "He sacrificed his life
>so his Marines could continue the mission."
>
>"God made something special.
>
>
George T. Curtis (RIP. 9/17/2005)
Posted : 2004-05-06 16:18
Medal of Honor
First, I would like to give my condolences to the parents of Cpl. Dunham. I am the father of two boys, and I cannot imagine what they are going through haveing to deal with the loss of a son.
I have read the previous accounts reguarding Cpl. Dunham. Gentelmen, it looks as though the Marine Corps has another Medal of Honor winner. The statemnets made in this forum will never compare to the actions of Cpl. Dunham, hopefully his parents will get the chance to read them. It might help to ease the pain that they are going through. To be able to read what other Marines say about their son wiil help them realize that
he is someone special. That his actions and sacrafice are hled in high esteem by his country and Marines of all era's. I believe that Marines from all generations can agree to that. Semper Fi, Cpl. Dunham.
Chris Breaux "Garfield 411"
HMH-362 and HML-767
CH-53D and UH-1N
Crewchief
Garfield411
UH-1N and CH-53D
Crewchief
Posted : 2004-05-07 07:26
one for all and all for his brothers
Dan and Natalie
You must be heart sick at the loss of Jason, as are we, his older brothers. He has proven once again to the world what it is to be a Marine. You may have heard that we make Marines, not so, they come from homes like your's with all the ingredients that it takes. We just let them and teach them how. As your pain subsides over time a profound pride will wash over you as it will all of us, his brothers. Be assured that he was not alone, for all his brothers that went before him and all of us to follow were with him in sperit. You have every right, to walk up to anyone,anywhere,anytime and say without a blink, my son was a "Corperal of Marines".
Roy M. Pitt
Sgt. USMC
2335656/6018
RVN '69-'71
The time, the inclination, and the where-with-all
Posted : 2004-05-08 17:18
May 26, 2004
Marine recommended for posthumous Medal of Honor
Associated Press
SCIO, N.Y. — A Marine from Allegany County, N.Y., has been recommended by fellow Marines to receive the Medal of Honor, the military’s highest award. Cpl. Jason L. Dunham of Scio, 65 miles southeast of Buffalo, has been credited with saving the lives of two Marines in Karbala on April 14.
According to published reports, Dunham, while struggling with an Iraqi insurgent, placed his helmet and his body on top of a grenade being held by the man to protect two battalion mates. The grenade exploded and Dunham died eight days later at Bethesda Naval Medical Center, Md.
“I deeply believe that given the facts and evidence presented, he clearly understood the situation and attempted to block the blast of the grenade from his squad members,” Lt. Col. Matthew Lopez wrote in a letter recommending Dunham for the Medal of Honor, the Wall Street Journal reported. “His personal action was far beyond the call of duty and saved the lives of his fellow Marines.”
The president, in the name of Congress, has awarded more than 3,400 Medals of Honor since 1861. The last two were awarded to two Army soldiers killed in Somalia in October 1993.
“Dunham will be the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for service in combat since Vietnam,” Lance Cpl. Dan Wyatt of Hurricane, W.Va., wrote in a letter published in the Charleston Gazette.
“It seems Dunham was able to make a split-second decision that would ultimately lead to his death but save others,” the letter said.
Marine Corps officials had no information Tuesday about the Medal of Honor recommendation. That information wouldn’t be released until such a high honor were approved, they said.
George T. Curtis (RIP. 9/17/2005)
Posted : 2004-05-26 19:36
