Jason Dunham

Dunham's Medal of Honortheamericanpatriotshop.com       To many, a Marine’s squad is their family. This could be no truer for Marine Corporal Jason Dunham. He fearlessly proved this when he jumped on a live grenade and died, saving everyone around him. This happened during his second deployment in Iraq.in March 2004, more specifically, Al-Karabilah. Dunham was born on November 10th, a birthday he shares with the Marine Core. He was also awarded the Medal of Honor on that very same day in 2006. Dunham was born in a small town in the United States and grew up displaying friendliness among his family and friends. Ever since he was a kid, Dunham showed kindness: “In a letter, a childhood friend described how Corporal Dunham went out of his way to console her when other children taunted her on a bus ride home” (DAV Magazine). Most people would have merely wondered why she was sad, and kept to themselves. And many did. But Dunham helped her out. This shows that he had the courage to stand up for others and help them. Dunham held selflessness as a personal principle, one that he abided by even in childhood. He was always thinking about others, and carried that altruistic attitude with him into the war. After he valiantly gave his life, Dunham became renowned as a hero. And he is. A hero must possess the selflessness to help others at personal risk, and have the courage in order to carry those actions out. Dunham displays both those criteria,  While he was recognized for giving his life, Jason Dunham truly deserves the title of a hero for his courage in battle, and his selflessness throughout his life at home and in Iraq.

        The immense courage Jason Dunham possessed allowed him to carry out his benevolent actions. An excerpt from his Medal of Honor citation read: “Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation, Corporal Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast” (DAV Magazine). Corporal Dunham had the bravery to defy common sense and jump on a live grenade. He demonstrated his courage by overcoming his fears in order to save his men. Put in that situation, most would run, caring only for their own safety.. But Dunham was unselfish, and saved his men. Also in his Medal of Honor citation, was this line describing an event shortly before his death: “Cpl. Dunham ordered his squad to dismount their vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several blocks south of the ambushed convoy” (Veterans United Network). He had the grit to lead his men through enemy gunfire to safety. It takes fearlessness to be able do do something so noble, and Dunham had that attribute. As you can see, Corporal Dunham had the courage to give his life and limb for his men, and sincerely reflects that quality.

The USS Jason Dunhamflickr.com       Jason Dunham was selfless throughout his deployment in Iraq, and not only in battle. A perfect example of Dunham’s altruism is in his actions regarding his time in war: “He was a proud Marine who likely could have avoided his deployment to Iraq, but voluntarily extended his enlistment to stay with his brothers-in-arms. For his fellow Marines he paid the ultimate sacrifice, shielding them from an exploding grenade in Iraq” (The New York Times). This shows how selfless he was in action and demeanor. He volunteered to stay in a hostile country and put his life on the line, all for the safety of his men. Most people would have left such a dangerous place, thinking only about their personal safety, but Dunham thought only about the well-being of everyone around him. And that applied to more than just his men: ¨Even in a war zone, Jason brought his good cheer. His parents told a story of when Jason wanted to play soccer with a group of Iraqi children. ´Jason loves kids,´ said his father, Dan¨ (Veterans United Network). Whether it was children or his own squad, Dunham felt the need to keep them safe and happy. He cared for others, and just like in childhood, would go out of his way to do so. One could even go so far as to speculate as to why he joined the Marines-to keep the innocents in Iraq safe from harm. Jason Dunham was incredibly selfless no matter the situation.

Jason in Combat Geardragonpyper.deviantart.com        Jason Dunham deserves the title of a hero not only for giving his life so valiantly, but for the ways he displayed courage and selflessness throughout his life. For example, when he made the ultimate sacrifice: “By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service” (DAV Magazine). The United States Naval Service recognized his “undaunting courage” in his citation. By reflecting the traditions and values of the Marine Core, Dunham shows his courage and selflessness. He displayed his courage by both jumping on a live grenade, and leading his men through enemy gunfire to safety. He displayed his selflessness by both giving his life for his country and comforting others, wherever and whenever. Dunham is an inspiration to people everywhere. If people everywhere had his compassion for others, as well as the bravery to act on that compassion, the world would be a better place. Jason Dunham sacrificed his life for his squad, completely demonstrating how a Marine’s squad is his family, and that he truly is a hero.

Works Cited:

Hernandez, Raymond. “Tears Are Shed at the White House for a Marine's Bravery in Iraq.” The

New York Times, The New York Times, 12 Jan. 2007,

www.nytimes.com/2007/01/12/nyregion/12medal.html.

"Honoring the brave: Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham." DAV Magazine, May-June 2007, p. 26+.

Student Resources In Context,

https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A163679388/SUIC?u=powa9245&sid=SUIC&xid=6cd560

e. Accessed 27 Mar. 2018.

Moore, David. “Jason Dunham: Heroic Marine Jumps On Grenade To Save Others.” Veterans

United Network, 10 Aug. 2012,

www.veteransunited.com/network/medal-of-honor-bio-cpl-jason-dunham/.