Jason Dunham Jason Lee Dunham ( 10 November 1981 – 22 April 2004 ) was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps who was awarded the Medal of Honor while serving with 3rd Battalion 7th Marines during the Iraq War . While on a patrol in Husaybah , his unit was attacked and he deliberately covered an enemy grenade to save nearby Marines . When it exploded Dunham was seriously injured and died eight days later . Early life . Jason Dunham , was born 10 November 1981 in Scio , New York , and resided there his entire life with his parents Dan and Deb , and two brothers and a sister . Coincidentally he was born on the 206th anniversary of the founding of the United States Marine Corps . He graduated from Scio High school in 2000 , having played basketball for his high school team . Military service . Dunham joined the Marine Corps in 2000 . After graduating from recruit training on 27 October 2000 from Golf Company Platoon 2092 , he served as a Security Force sentry at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia until 2003 . In early 2004 , he was serving as a squad leader with 4th Platoon , Company K , 3rd Battalion , 7th Marine Regiment , 1st Marine Division , I Marine Expeditionary Force . His unit was based in Al - Karābilah . On 14 April 2004 , the battalion commander ' s convoy came under attack near Husaybah , Iraq , and 4th Platoon was dispatched on patrol to investigate . Dunham and his squad intercepted a number of cars spotted near the scene of the attack , which the patrol detained to search for weapons . When the squad approached a white Toyota Land Cruiser and discovered AK - 47 s , the driver exited and attacked the Marines in an attempt to flee . Dunham responded by closing in for hand - to - hand combat to subdue him . During the fighting , the individual dropped an armed Mills 36M hand grenade . Dunham , to save the rest of his men , deliberately threw himself on the grenade , attempting to use his PASGT helmet to shield himself and others from the explosion , warning the others to " watch his hands . " Dunham , the insurgent , and two other Marines nearby were all wounded by grenade fragments . Although the enemy fighter recovered sufficiently to flee the scene , he was shot dead while trying to escape . Corporal Dunham was severely wounded by the grenade blast , and was immediately evacuated . Within days , he arrived at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda , Maryland in a coma , where he was being treated for his injuries . After being diagnosed with brain damage and deemed unlikely to recover , he was taken off of life support eight days later , on 22 April 2004 . Shortly beforehand , Commandant of the Marine Corps Michael Hagee presented Dunham with the Purple Heart . General Hagee , Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps John L . Estrada and Dunham ' s parents were at his bedside when he died . He was buried in Fairlawn Cemetery in Scio . In 2004 , Michael M . Phillips , staff writer for " The Wall Street Journal " , wrote an article summarizing Dunham ' s actions that appeared on page A1 of the 25 May edition . In 2005 , Phillips published " The Gift of Valor : A War Story " , which told Dunham ' s life story . Honors and awards . In addition to the Medal of Honor and his other military decorations , Dunham has also received other honors ; including being the namesake of a United States Navy Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer , named in his honor , the United States Post Office in Scio , New York was renamed the Corporal Jason L . Dunham Post Office , The Marine Corps Security Force Barracks at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay Georgia was renamed the Corporal Jason Dunham Barracks in his honor , a Crucible warrior ' s station at both Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island , S . C . and San Diego , Ca . is named in his honor , the Marine Corps League Chapter in Palm Desert , Ca . is named in his honor , and a chapter of the Leathernecks Motorcycle Club International is named in his honor . Military decorations . Dunham ' s awards include : Dunham also held rifle sharpshooter and pistol expert marksmanship badges . Medal of Honor . Shortly after his death , Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Lopez , Dunham ' s commanding officer , began the process of nominating him for the Medal of Honor , the United States ' highest award for valor in combat . On 10 November 2006 , at the dedication of the National Museum of the Marine Corps , President George W . Bush announced that Corporal Dunham would receive the Medal of Honor , making him the first recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in the Iraq War and the first Marine recipient for actions since the Vietnam War . President Bush presented Cpl Dunham ' s family with the Medal of Honor in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on 11 January 2007 . Citation . " The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor posthumously to CORPORAL JASON L . DUNHAM UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS For service as set forth in the following citation : " For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as 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 ambush ed as it was traveling to Camp Husaybah . As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced , they quickly began to receive enemy fire . Corporal Dunham ordered his squad to dismount their vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several blocks south of the ambushed convoy . Discovering seven Iraqi vehicles in a column attempting to depart , Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the vehicles to search them for weapons . As they approached the vehicles , an insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham . Corporal Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground and in the ensuing struggle saw the insurgent release a grenade . Corporal Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines to the threat . Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation , Corporal Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body , bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast . In an ultimate and selfless act of bravery in which he was mortally wounded , he saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines . By his undaunted courage , intrepid fighting spirit , and unwavering devotion to duty , Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for his country , thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service " . " USS " Jason Dunham " . On 20 March 2007 , the Navy reported that a new guided missile destroyer would be named the , in his honor . In a formal ceremony in Scio on 23 March 2007 , Navy Secretary Donald C . Winter officially announced the naming of DDG - 109 after Dunham . The keel was laid at a ceremony on 11 April 2008 , at Bath Iron Works in Bath , Maine . The ship was christened on 1 August 2009 , with Dunham ' s mother Debra acting as the ship ' s sponsor . Among family members and officials present at the christening , also in attendance were Dunham ' s Kilo Company commander , Major Trent Gibson , as well as Sgt Bill Hampton and Cpl Kelly Miller , whose lives he saved , and retired Gen Hagee . A piece of Dunham ' s helmet is encased in the mast . The " Jason Dunham " was commissioned on 13 November 2010 . The ship ' s galley , named " Jason ' s Dugout " , is decorated with memorabilia with Dunham ' s favorite baseball team , the New York Yankees . Other namesakes . The Marine Corps Security Force Barracks at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay was renamed the Cpl Jason Dunham Barracks in late June 2007 . The Cpl Dunham room is located at the Corporals Course at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort , South Carolina . A Crucible warrior ' s station at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island , South Carolina and Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego , California was named in his honor . When recruits arrive at this station , they will read Cpl Dunham ' s Medal of Honor citation , and then perform ground - fighting techniques reflecting those Dunham used to defend himself and his fellow Marines leading to his nomination for the Medal of Honor . A bill to rename the Scio post office , located at 4422 West Sciota Street in Scio , New York , as the " Corporal Jason L . Dunham Post Office " was submitted to the House of Representatives in December 2005 by Congressman Randy Kuhl . The bill was immediately passed in the House with support from all New York delegation members . With the support of both New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton , the bill passed the Senate . On 14 March 2006 , President Bush signed the bill . He also met with Dunham ' s family , who gave him a copy of " The Gift of Valor " . Other honors . The Corporal Jason L . Dunham Scholarship Foundation was established to provide monetary scholarships to Marines and Corpsmen , who wish to pursue a college education at a nationally recognized and accredited institution of higher education . In February 2008 Robert Ferrigno dedicated the second book in his " Assassins " trilogy , " Sins of the Assassin " , to SFC Paul Smith , Corporal Dunham , and LT Michael Murphy .