American Valor Quarterly Issue 1 - Winter 2007 | Page 31

So That Others Might Live
The Story of Jason Dunham
On January 11, 2007, President George W. Bush presented the
Medal of Honor to the family of Marine Corporal Jason Dunham.
“Since World War II,” the President said, “more than half of
those who have been awarded the Medal of Honor have lost their
lives in the action that earned it. On a dusty road in western Iraq,
Cpl. Dunham gave his own life so that men under his command
might live.”
It was on that road in Iraq that Jason
Dunham fulfilled a promise made to
the Marines under his command—that
each of them would go home alive.
Near the Iraqi town of Husaybah,
Cpl. Dunham and his men were ambushed by insurgents hiding in a car.
While wrestling with one of the insurgents, Cpl. Dunham noticed a grenade
in the man’s hand, which he soon
dropped to the ground next to them,
and at the feet of two of Dunham’s fellow Marines. Acting immediately and instinctively, Cpl. Dunham covered the grenade with his
Kevlar helmet. The ensuing blast left Dunham grievously wounded,
but the two other Marines, while hurt, were able to walk away.
Eight days later, Jason Dunham succumbed to his wounds. Had he
not acted, all three Marines would have been killed.
Maj. Trent Gibson was commander of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion,
7th Marines—the company in which Cpl. Dunham served. Sgt.
Jason Sanders served alongside Cpl. Dunham, and witnessed the
act which led to his receiving the Medal of Honor. In this issue, we
have asked them both to share their memories of Jason Dunham,
and his own story of valor.

Jason L. Dunham was born on November 10, 1981—the 206th
birthday of the United States Marine Corps. At a young age, he
excelled at sports, and displayed a natural ability to lead. He took
that ability with him to the Marines, where he would be assigned to
Kilo Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment in
September of 2003. Shortly after, then-Captain Trent Gibson,
commander of Kilo Company of 3/7, sought to reorganize the
company following its first tour in Iraq, making it better suited for
the unconventional warfare the Marines faced in Iraq. Each platoon,
squad, and fire team needed leaders who could be counted on to
make sure each Marine was fully prepared for battle.

Maj. Gibson: When I reorganized the company, I made
the decision to spread load the new blood, as well as the
weapons specialists and leadership and expertise in the
company so that all four rifle platoons would be as equally
capable as possible. So I dumped the company into a pile
and told the platoon commanders and sergeants to put
together a draft of their top
choices for leaders, starting with
squad leaders, fire team leaders,
and weapons specialists. ThenSSgt. John Ferguson, platoon
sergeant of Kilo Four (4 th
platoon), chose Cpl. Dunham as
one of his first picks to be a squad
leader, despite the fact that
Dunham had come from a
machine gun section and was not
a rifle squad leader. Still,
everyone in the company had
already gotten the idea that Cpl. Dunham was a very capable
leader. He was genuine, engaged, and a concerned leader,
who commanded the respect of his seniors, subordinates,
and peers alike, because he was a genuine individual. He
did not lead by intimidation—he led by example.
Cpl. Dunham quickly became among the most respected Marines in
Kilo Company, and he worked to live up to the highest standards of
the Corps. His dedication to his fellow Marines went above and
beyond the call. Prior to 3/7’s redeployment to Iraq, he told another
Marine of his desire to extend his enlistment to remain with the
battalion for its entire tour. “I want to make sure everyone makes it
home alive,” he said.
On April 14, 2004