our Marine of the day: remembering corporal jason dunham

November 10, 2009

it’s well known that a Marine remains faithful to the mission at hand, to each other, to the corps and to country, no matter what. corporal jason dunham did that.

it’s jason dunham’s birthday today. he would have been 28 years old. do you know his story? when he was only 22 years old and a corporal in the Marine Corps, he dived on a live grenade to shield his troops during an ambush near Husaybah, Iraq; dying from his wounds 8 days later. read more…

“As far back as boot camp, his superiors spotted the quality that would mark this young American as an outstanding Marine: His willingness to put the needs of others before his own,” Mr. Bush said. “As long as we have Marines like Cpl. Dunham, America will never fear for its liberty.”

On patrol on April 14, 2004, Cpl. Dunham found himself engaged in hand-to-hand combat with an insurgent near the Syrian border. When his attacker dropped a live hand grenade, the Marine made the split-second decision to cover the weapon with his own helmet, shielding two of his men from its full explosive force.

The other Marines staggered away from the blast, injured but alive. Cpl. Dunham suffered deep shrapnel wounds to the brain. He survived eight days in a coma, only to die with his parents at his bedside. He was 22 years old.

“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about it,” said Cpl. William Hampton, one of the Marines fighting beside Cpl. Dunham when the grenade exploded. The explosion left Cpl. Hampton, a 24-year-old from Woodinville, Wash., peppered with shrapnel. “I see my arms, I see my leg. I’m always reminded of it.”

you can read the full story of the husaybah incident here. jason dunham’s selfless actions that day saved lives of other Marines. he earned the Medal of Honor posthumously from president george w. bush and a grateful nation.

yes, mission accomplished, corporal dunham. semper fidelis and happy birthday.

Posted in awesomeness, freedom, heroes, military, terrorism