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POPSNavy Announces Destroyer USS Jason Dunham Commissioning at Port Everglades It’s been five years since the last such ceremony; this event, planned for November, will be the fifth in the port’s history. It follows the commissioning of the USS Bainbridge in 2005, the USS Higgins in 1999, the USS Cole in 1996 and the USS Leyete Gulf in 1987. ALSO: Fallen hero's memory sails on Navy to commission ship in NY Marine's honor By ANDY SOLTIS When the Iraqi dropped the grenade, Dunham covered it with his Kevlar helmet and threw himself on top to smother the blast, the Pentagon said. "That man saved my life," Sgt. Billy Hampton, one of the two Marines Dunham saved, recalled at a Veterans Day tour of the ship. "And I wouldn't be here today. I wouldn't be here, and my little girls wouldn't be here." Dunham died eight days later at Bethesda, Md., Naval Hospital. President George W. Bush presented Dunham's family with the Medal of Honor at the White House in 2007.
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POPSProject Valour-IT USMC Birthday Edition Blatherings Blog offers a Birthday Toast from former Commandant General Louis H. Wilson. Right Pundits salutes our Marine of the Day, Corporal Jason Dunham: You can see a photo of Jason below, and watch the moving video of President George W. Bush awarding the Medal of Honor to Corporal Jason Dunham, USMC, posthumously. Courtesy of Dr. Melissa, Bob Parsons, CEO of GoDaddy.com gives a shout out to his fellow Marines. No Sheeples has General Conway’s Birthday message. The Marines have given a lot for us. Ercille has thoughts on how you can pay it forward. Michelle Malkin rocks!!! Mike the Marine’s Birthday video from 2008. See also: Drew at AoSHQ has a USMC birthday post up, as well. Coalition of the Swilling weighs in on that long, unbroken line. .Remembering Cpl. Jason Dunham: Blatherings Blog has a tribute to Jason Dunham and video, too! Read the following
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POPSNavy Destroyer Named After Marine Medal Of Honor Winner Jason L. Dunham
In a solemn ceremony punctuated by talk of courage, service and sacrifice, the mother of a Marine corporal on Saturday christened a warship honoring her son, who died after covering an exploding grenade to protect his comrades in Iraq. After composing herself and taking a deep breath, Deb Dunham smashed a bottle of champagne over the bow of the 510-foot warship Jason Dunham, then held the bottle aloft before a cheering crowd of more than 1,500 people. She was joined by the Marines who served with her son, by her husband, Dan Dunham, and their daughter Katelyn Dunham. Two other Dunham boys also were in the audience. Retired Gen. Michael Hagee, a former Marine commandant who was with the Dunhams when their son died at Bethesda Naval Hospital days after the explosion, said Jason gave the “gift of valor.” Hagee said the warship will serve as a reminder that freedom “is paid for by the men and women who wear the cloth of this nation.”