Well it's a couple of days late, but I've been wanting to post something in light of September 11th, which just passed us by.
Republicans and Democrats are still going back and forth, of course, even though there has been signs of real progress over in Iraq. It seems that even some opponents of the Iraq are admitting that we might be doing some real good over there. Our progress over there is welcome news to me, who even though I support our cause over there, do not like being at war or hope the war continues.
The one thing about the war that I wish we heard more about, are the stories of the men and women who are over there giving their lives for us, while we enjoy our comparatively easy day to day lifestyle. One story I found was that of Jason Dunham, who gave his life for this country on April 14, 2004. I got this article from the National Review, so I am just going to pass it on in it's entirety. Jeff Emanuel wrote the article, back on May 25.
Jason Dunham, of Scio, New York, shared a birthday (the day before Veteran's Day) with the United States Marine Corps...
Dunham's death in Iraq is not in itself what makes his story of heroism; it is his final actions, stunning in their selflessness, which deserve to be known and remembered. According to the official report:
On April 14, 2004, Corporal Jason Dunham heroically saved the lives of two of his fellow Marines by jumping on a grenade during an ambush in the town of Karabilah.
When a nearby Marine convoy was ambushed, Corporal Dunham led his squad to the site of the attack, where he and his men stopped a convoy of cars trying to make an escape. As he moved to search one of the vehicles, an insurgent jumped out and grabbed the corporal by the throat.
The corporal engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. At one point, he shouted to his fellow Marines, "No, no, no! Watch his hand!"
Moments later, an enemy grenade rolled out and Corporal Dunham jumped on the grenade to protect his fellow Marines, using his helmet and body to absorb the blast. Corporal Dunham succombed to his wounds on April 22, 2004.
At the time of the battle in question, Lance Corporal Mark Edward Dean, a close friend of Dunham's
didn't recognize the wounded Marine being loaded into the back of the Humvee. Blood from shrapnel wounds in the Marine's head and neck had covered his face. Then Lance Cpl. Dean spotted the tattoo on his chest -- an Ace of Spades and a skull -- and realized he was looking at one of his closest friends, Cpl. Dunham. A volunteer firefighter back home in Owasso, Okla., Lance Cpl. Dean says he knew from his experience with car wrecks that his friend had a better chance of surviving if he stayed calm.
"You're going to be alright," Lance Cpl. recalled saying to Dunham as the Humvee raced against the inevitability of time and mortal wounds on a doomed quest to save the life of a brave Marine whose selfless act had just saved the lives of his comrades.
"We're going to get you home."
The situation was eerily familiar to Dean, who recalled Dunham's words to him and their comrades while on a trip to Las Vegas shortly before leaving the US for Iraq. Dunham told them that he was planning to extend his enlistment and stay in Iraq for the battalion's entire tour. "You're crazy for extending," Lance Cpl. Dean said. "Why?"
Cpl. Dunham responded: "I want to make sure everyone makes it home alive. I want to make sure you go home to your wife alive."
And he did just that.
Even though it counts not at all as a sufficient repayment to Corporal Dunham and to his family, it was nevertheless fitting and necessary that his parents were presented a posthumously awarded Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for military valor, in Corporal Dunham's name, by President Bush in a January 11 ceremony at the White House.
The incredible bravery, love and selflessness displayed that Corporal Jason Dunham...was as deserving of the Medal of Honor as any soldier ever has been.
