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 … 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 … 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 … Read entire article »

Honoring Cpl. Jason L. Dunham Wellsville Daily Reporter SCIO – On a sandy street in the heart of the war in Iraq, a young man from Scio committed an act of valor which cost him his life. Friday, a ceremony at his hometown post office will commemorate his sacrifice for evermore. The gift of life Cpl. Jason L. Dunham gave to his fellow soldiers in April 2004 will be recognized when a plaque is unveiled Friday which officially changes the name of the Scio post office to the Cpl. Jason L. Dunham Memorial Post Office. The public is invited to attend the 10 a.m. ceremony on Friday at the post office located at 4422 West Sciota Street. [snip] A lot has happened in the 25 months since Jason’s parents Deb and Dan Dunham, his siblings … Read entire article »

Reprinted from May 26, 2004. NY Daily News A New Yorker who died saving two other Marines by covering an Iraqi grenade with his helmet and blunting the blast with his body has been nominated for a Congressional Medal of Honor. Cpl. Jason Dunham was commanding a checkpoint near Karbala on April 14 when a black-clad Iraqi leaped out of a car and grabbed him around the neck, according to the Marines. A strapping 6-foot-1 ex-jock, Dunham kneed the Iraqi in the chest and then both fell to the ground. It was then that he spotted the grenade in his attacker’s hand and called out a warning to the Marines rushing to his aid. His cry was cut short by the blast. When the smoke cleared, Dunham was laying facedown in his own … Read entire article »