Thursday, November 16, 2006
U.S. Marine to receive Medal of Honor
"Where do we get such men?"
Corporal Jason Dunham will receive the Medal of Honor (posthumously) - the highest national award for battlefield heroism - for his actions in Iraq near the Syrian border on April 14, 2004.
Jason, a 22-year-old New York-native, was leading a patrol from his unit, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, when he received a message that another Marine unit had been ambushed. Responding to the attack site, Jason's men encountered several cars full of insurgents trying to escape. When Jason approached one of the cars, an insurgent fighter jumped out and grabbed the young Marine by the throat.
According to this week's cover story in Marine Corps Times, written by Gidget Fuentes (with my friend, Beth Zimmerman, and John Hoellwarth contributing), "The corporal engaged the insurgent in hand-to-hand combat."
As he was struggling with the enemy, Jason shouted to his Marines, "No. No. No. Watch his hand."
As the fight continued between the two men, the guerrilla dropped a grenade. The pin had been pulled and the arming spoon released. Jason then jumped on the grenade, using his helmet and body to smother the blast. Shrapnel ripped through his skull.
Eight days later, Jason died at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.
His mom and dad were by his side.
God bless Cpl. Jason Dunham and his family.
Semper Fi,
WTSjr
[Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr.'s official website at uswriter.com]
Corporal Jason Dunham will receive the Medal of Honor (posthumously) - the highest national award for battlefield heroism - for his actions in Iraq near the Syrian border on April 14, 2004.Jason, a 22-year-old New York-native, was leading a patrol from his unit, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, when he received a message that another Marine unit had been ambushed. Responding to the attack site, Jason's men encountered several cars full of insurgents trying to escape. When Jason approached one of the cars, an insurgent fighter jumped out and grabbed the young Marine by the throat.
According to this week's cover story in Marine Corps Times, written by Gidget Fuentes (with my friend, Beth Zimmerman, and John Hoellwarth contributing), "The corporal engaged the insurgent in hand-to-hand combat."
As he was struggling with the enemy, Jason shouted to his Marines, "No. No. No. Watch his hand."
As the fight continued between the two men, the guerrilla dropped a grenade. The pin had been pulled and the arming spoon released. Jason then jumped on the grenade, using his helmet and body to smother the blast. Shrapnel ripped through his skull.
Eight days later, Jason died at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.
His mom and dad were by his side.
God bless Cpl. Jason Dunham and his family.
Semper Fi,
WTSjr
[Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr.'s official website at uswriter.com]
# posted by W. Thomas Smith, Jr. @ 4:24 AM 
