ARLINGTON, Va. -- Out of the seven Medal of Honor recipients since Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom began, only one held the title Marine.
Cpl. Jason Dunham - who would have turned 28 this month – received the Medal of Honor posthumously for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life.”
Read Dunham’s full Medal of Honor citation: http://cot.ag/a2V5fP
On April 14, 2004, Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah, Iraq, when they heard rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire erupt approximately two kilometers west of their position. Without hesitation, Dunham lead his squad to reinforce another patrol of Marines with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment.
The minutes that followed Dunham’s decision would prove to be a testament to his personal honor, sacrifice and leadership as a United States Marine said Maj. Trent A. Gibson, Dunham's platoon commander on patrol that day.
Dunham’s platoon commander’s account of his character: http://cot.ag/bG236v
A documentary on the life and sacrifice of Cpl. Jason Dunham: http://cot.ag/95jXqe
In honor of Dunham’s sacrifice, the U.S. Navy named its newest guided-missile destroyer the USS Jason Dunham.
Watch Dunham’s mother christen the ship: http://cot.ag/9MjLfJ
Read about the USS Jason Dunham’s christening: http://cot.ag/9QwzeA
The USS Jason Dunham is not just the Navy’s newest destroyer – it’s a legacy handed down from Marines of previous generations.
Dunham shares his birthday, November 10, with every Marine past and present, so it was a fitting ceremony when the Navy commissioned it’s newest ship three days later in Port Everglades, Fla.
Photos of the commissioning ceremony: http://cot.ag/clzkGn
Read about the commissioning ceremony: http://cot.ag/9Zqqkb
According to Naval leadership, the USS Jason Dunham will protect America’s liberty by providing a dynamic multi-mission platform to lead the Navy-Marine Corps team into the future. The ship can operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups, and underway replenishment groups.
When Marines deploy for future sea-born operations, they may just find themselves aboard the ship named in honor of their fallen brother – Cpl. Jason Dunham.