United States Marine Corporal Jason Dunham used his own body as a shield to save his brothers in arms from a live grenade. In honor of his selfless act, Dunham has become the subject of a documentary, “The Gift,” telling the story of his sacrifice and its lingering impact upon the people he left behind.
On April 14, 2004, the seventh Marines unit, Kilo Company, was posted to the streets of Husaybah in the Al-Anbar province of Iraq. They were sent in an effort to put down an attack on their battalion commander’s convoy.
Dunham, call sign “KILO 4/2,” was ordered to identify enemy insurgents on the scene.
Upon approaching the vehicle, Dunham noticed AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades on the backseat. Before the corporal could react, however, the driver had exited the vehicle and attacked him; a hand-to-hand engagement quickly ensued.
The driver of the insurgent vehicle let go of a grenade; the pin fell free and the grenade landed on the ground just feet from the grappling men. Dunham took off his helmet, covered the grenade with the helmet and his own body, and took the full impact of the explosion.
Dunham was seriously injured by the blast. However, he had saved the lives of his Marine comrades, Hampton and Corporal Kelly Miller, as a result of his quick-thinking heroism.
“Not many people are within a foot of a grenade and call tell you about it,” Miller reflected. “We loaded him up on the bird,” he continued, explaining how Dunham was airlifted away from the scene of the conflict and how he told him, “You’re going home.”
Tragically, Dunham’s wounds were too devastating for the young soldier to survive them; he died eight days after the grenade went off, on April 22, 2004.
Dunham became the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. The posthumous award was announced to his comrades and family members by President George W. Bush in a ceremony on Jan. 11, 2007.
Dunham’s blue Marine uniform is proudly displayed in a glass case on the deck of the U.S.S Jason Dunham, a Navy battleship named in his honor, to this day. The young soldier’s Medal of Honor citation is also read aloud to Camp Pendleton and Camp Lejeune Marine recruits in order to inspire the next generation of Marines with this true tale of selfless courage.
“The Gift” is simultaneously a tribute to a true American hero and a sensitive exploration of the sorrow, grief, and survivor guilt that endures since his passing. It is Dunham’s story, told by the soldiers who fought beside him.
“Jason gave me my life for his,” Miller reflected. “So I have to be good enough to accommodate both.”
Hampton added, “Take what you’re given, make it count, and don’t stop.”
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