Positivity: Marine Hero Who Died So Comrades Could Live to Receive Medal of Honor

Cpl. Jason Dunham is receiving the recognition of his selfless bravery posthumously:

11/10/2006, 8:37 p.m. ET

QUANTICO, Va. (AP) — An emotional President Bush said Friday he would present the Medal of Honor — America’s highest military decoration — to a Marine who died when he jumped on a grenade in Iraq and saved the lives of two comrades.

The medal will be given posthumously to Cpl. Jason Dunham of Scio, N.Y., who died on April 22, 2004, of wounds he suffered when his patrol was ambushed near the Syrian border.

“He and his men stopped a convoy of cars that were trying to make an escape,” Bush said during a speech to dedicate a new Marine museum. “As he moved to search one of the vehicles, an insurgent jumped out and grabbed the corporal by the throat.”

During hand-to-hand combat with the insurgent, Dunham called out to his fellow Marines: “No, no, no. Watch his hand!”

“Moments later, an enemy grenade rolled out,” Bush said. “Cpl. Dunham did not hesitate. He jumped on the grenade to protect his fellow Marines. He used his helmet and his body to absorb the blast.”

Friday would have been Dunham’s 25th birthday. The museum dedication came on the 231st anniversary of the establishment of the Marines.

“You might say that he was born to be a Marine,” Bush told Dunham’s mother and father, who were among an estimated 10,000 people attending the dedication of the museum. They will be presented with the award, which is voted by Congress, at the White House.