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Jason’s Mom
“I wanted him here, and I didn’t have him,” Deb Dunham said Thursday, following the ceremony to award her son the Medal of Honor. [snip] Deb Dunham said Jason did not write many letters while he was overseas, but often picked up the phone to talk to his family. In fact, President George W. Bush, during the ceremony, recalled a story he heard about Dunham when the Scio native handed the phone to a fellow Marine, saying “I’ve got a guy here who just need to talk to a mom.”

Deb Dunham also talked about the support and compassion her hometown has given her family since Jason’s death.

“They’ve watched over our home and our kids,” Deb Dunham said. “This entire journey hasn’t stopped since we got the call that Jason was injured.”

A Navy doc who treated Jason
The family and guests were bused to the ceremony on three Marine Corps buses that bore the eerie shadows of stony-faced Marines on their one-way windows that were easier to see out of, than into.

“It’s the impression the Marines want to make,” said Navy Commander Heidi Kraft.

A California girl, Kraft who is in the mental health field, was on duty at the military hospital near Karabilah, Iraq when Dunham was brought in.

“Heidi is an angel. I think she is the only reason Jason got back, because she talked to him and gave him the will to get back to us like he promised,” said Deb Dunham of the woman who has become a family friend.

Kraft said she was honored to be at the ceremony, and asked to have her photo taken with two Medal of Honor recipients who were in attendance. Hundreds of soldiers passed through the hospital but Jason is the one she remembers.

“Rule number one is that young men die in war. Rule number two is that doctors can’t do anything about it,” she said quoting from the popular television show MASH. Kraft has written a book, originally for her children, about her experience in Iraq. “They’re only four now, and they don’t even remember that I was gone. But I want them to know about why their mother was gone for eight months, and some day they’ll want to know,” she reasons.

Little and Brown is publishing the book “Rule No. 2” in October; there is a chapter about Dunham.

Jason Dunham’s coach
Dunham was a friend to everybody except opposing pitchers. A .414 average is impressive enough. So is Dunham’s MVP from that 2000 Scio baseball team. The six-foot Dunham is a decorated champion, but it his actions in Iraq weren’t the first signs of greatness.

“I never would have doubted that he would have done something like that,” said Dunham’s former soccer coach and current Friendship coach, Al Barber.

Barber was not surprised when he heard that Scio’s goal leader in 2000 had given his life placing a helmet over a live grenade to save the lives of two fellow soldiers. The veteran soccer coach had seen Dunham - a striker - displaying the same qualities on the pitch for two years.

“I used an analogy of a woodchuck in the road for my soccer players,” said Barber. “The woodchuck can’t hesitate while crossing the street and neither can a soccer player. That was the first thing I thought of when I heard the news.”

Dunham’s reflexes were not his only qualities to benefit him in every sport he pursued. A local star by his senior year, Dunham wasn’t required to mentor the youth around him. Nobody told him to go the extra mile to make sure the freshman were comfortable on the field. Dunham’s inner-goodness naturally lent itself to bringing the younger guys up to speed.

“He went to talk to the younger kids,” Moretti explained. “Not a lot of the kids do that. He had younger brothers and sisters. I think that always reminded him of what it was like being in that sit uation. He would go talk to the freshman and sophomores. He’d even sit in the stands with them.”

“A lot of people seem to say he was best at baseball,” said Martin. “I thought he was an all-around athlete. He may have shined a lot more in baseball. He was one of those God-gifted kids that could do anything he set his mind to.”

Even those who weren’t necessarily his teammates looked up to Dunham.

“My two sons,” added Moretti. “Matt a junior and Joe a freshman, were ball boys back when I coached. They used to draw pictures of him playing. They loved him, too. They were as hurt as everyone else was.”

Pols speak out
Schumer and Clinton pressed for Dunham to be awarded the Medal of Honor and Schumer wrote a letter to the president after his death, recommending Dunham receives the medal.

“Corporal Dunham unflinchingly gave what Lincoln deemed ‘the last full measure of devotion’ and his heroism reflects the true spirit of selflessness, leadership, and courage that the Medal of Honor was established to recognize,” Schumer said. “Corporal Dunham laid down his life by shielding members of his unit from danger by throwing himself on a live grenade, an act of unbelievable bravery and selflessness that saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines.” [snip] “Today’s ceremony was one of the most emotional experiences I’ve had in my time in Washington, if not my life,” said Rep. John R. “Randy” Kuhl, R-Hammondsport. “The Dunhams are an amazing family and they have been through so much. The East Room of The White House was full of soldiers, sailors, veterans, government officials, and friends and family of the Dunhams including many from Allegany County.”

Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, also met with reporters after the ceremony and said a few words about Dunham.

“It’s always a very moving experience,” McCain said. “It reminds us all what is at stake and the sacrifice Americans have made.”

State Sen. Catharine Young, R-Olean, said Dunham’s family reflects his strength.

“He represents the values that we hold dear in the Southern Tier and everyone is truly grateful for his sacrifice,” Young said.