America's North Shore Journal

Dan and Deb Dunham, of Scio, N.Y., read their son’s memorial following the barracks dedication in honor of Cpl. Jason L. Dunham at Naval Submarine Base King’s Bay. Dunham was mortally wounded by a grenade during an encounter with insurgents in Iraq in April, 2004, and posthumously received the Medal of Honor on Jan. 11, 2007. Dunham was assigned to the security force company at King’s Bay from 2001 to 2003. Photographer: Seaman Dmitry Chepusov, Navy Visual News Service … Read entire article »

Jason Dunham’s parents received his Medal of Honor from President Bush today. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifle Squad Leader, 4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced), Regimental Combat Team 7, First Marine Division (Reinforced), on 14 April 2004. Corporal 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 to the west. Corporal Dunham led his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards the engagement to provide fire support to their Battalion Commander’s convoy, which had been ambushed as it was traveling to Camp Husaybah. As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced, they quickly began to receive enemy fire. … Read entire article »

Bill O’Reilly interviewed Jason Dunham’s parents on Monday. Fox Ms. Dunham, we’ll begin with you. Why did Jason sign up? DEBRA DUNHAM, MOTHER OF CPL. JASON DUNHAM: We have four children. And I teach school. Dan works at a factory. And having four children, we couldn’t afford to pay for all four kids to go to college full shot. Jason knew that the G.I. Bill would be beneficial. And we had talk about several different things. And he chose to join the Marines, knowing he’d get a good education… O’REILLY: Sure. DEBRA DUNHAM: …knowing he would get good training. And he would be able to use the G.I. Bill. O’REILLY: When he got through basic training, never an easy thing, down in Quantico, Virginia. DEBRA DUNHAM: Yes. O’REILLY: Very difficult. You must have been proud of him. How did … Read entire article »

A young man from Scio New York is about to be honored with America’s highest military honor. I have written about this brave Marine many times. When I read this, I cried. Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham will be awarded the Medal of Honor. My posts about this extraordinary young man are here. CNN President Bush announced on Friday that the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, will be awarded posthumously to Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham. In April 2004, Dunham was leading a patrol in an Iraqi town near the Syrian border when the patrol stopped a convoy of cars leaving the scene of an attack on a Marine convoy, according to military and media accounts of the action. An occupant of one of the cars attacked Dunham and the two fought hand … Read entire article »