JASON L. DUNHAM 1981 – 2004 American Superhero
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 ambushed 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.
Jason L. Dunham was born on 10 November 1981 in Scio, New York. The date may seem insignificant to those who don’t know its history. The ones who do know its significance celebrate this day – faithfully – each year. November 10th is the United States Marine Corps birthday… a birthday that Jason Dunham shares. Corporal Jason L. Dunham was 22 years old when he left us. He came from the small town of Scio (sigh-oh) population 1900. It is the kind of town where everyone knows your name… where values and respect still mean something. It was here, along a winding country road filled with rolling-meadows, and a swift moving creek, that Jason L. Dunham was brought into this world. As you turn into the Dunham’s long driveway that leads to their house, the breeze catches a yellow ribbon tied to the mailbox and the story begins to unfold. The further you drive; two flags adorn the front porch, an American flag and the United States Marine Corps flag. And both seem to play the same quiet song, and yet both stand tall for this fallen young man. There is a final reminder that Jason Dunham is no longer with us… a blue star in the front window has been replaced by a gold star, symbolizing the Dunham family loss. On April 14, 2004, 3 days after Easter Sunday, Corporal Dunham was manning a checkpoint in Karabilah, Iraq, when an insurgent leapt from his car and began choking Corporal Dunham. A scuffle ensued as two Marines approached to help. Reportedly, the last words from Corporal Dunham were, “No, No. Watch his hand.” Suddenly, the insurgent dropped a grenade. Corporal Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, dropped to the ground, and covered the explosive as best he could. The blast seriously wounded all 3 Marines. Eight days later, Corporal Jason L. Dunham died at Bethesda Naval Hospital from wounds he received in the incident. He was 22. Corporal Dunham made the ultimate sacrifice, and in doing so saved the lives of his fellow Marines. Due to his actions on that fateful day, Corporal Dunham has been awarded the Medal of Honor. [Via: jasonsmemorial.org] 
Happy 234th Birthday To My Marine Corps
General James T. Conway 34th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps 234th USMC Birthday Message (NOV 2009 AD)
ROSS A. McGINNIS 1987 – 2006 American Superhero
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an M2 .50-caliber Machine Gunner, 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Adhamiyah, Northeast Baghdad, Iraq, on 4 December 2006. That afternoon his platoon was conducting combat control operations in an effort to reduce and control sectarian violence in the area. While Private McGinnis was manning the M2 .50-caliber Machine Gun, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner’s hatch into the vehicle. Reacting quickly, he yelled “grenade,” allowing all four members of his crew to prepare for the grenade’s blast. Then, rather than leaping from the gunner’s hatch to safety, Private McGinnis made the courageous decision to protect his crew. In a selfless act of bravery, in which he was mortally wounded, Private McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion. Private McGinnis’ gallant action directly saved four men from certain serious injury or death. Private First Class McGinnis’ extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Ross Andrew McGinnis, born June 14, 1987, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, spent his formative years growing up in Knox, Pennsylvania. He attended Keystone Junior-Senior High School, graduating in 2005. McGinnis’ parents, Tom and Romayne, say their child had a boring life. As a child he was involved in Boy Scouts, soccer and basketball at the local YMCA, and his church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. McGinnis held an afterschool job at McDonald’s. One of McGinnis’ loves included cars. He took courses at Clarion County Career Center to develop his skills in order to one day be an auto mechanic.
On his MySpace.com page, McGinnis said of himself, “I live three lives, in all three I am the same person, but my three separate lives are not connected in any way.” Of his life in Knox, he said, “One of my lives is the one I had growing up; I had my friends in high school and around where I lived, and I had my family, my two older sisters and parents. I barely get to see this life anymore.” He noted in his blog that he was anxious to return to Pennsylvania to see his family and friends. He was to go on leave in early April, and his friends noted their excitement to see him again.
Everyone who knew him described McGinnis as a happy, fun-living guy who brought a smile to the face of everyone around him. Squad leader Ian Newland said of him, “His personality and humor made him stand out. He was the comedian out of everybody. You could be having the worst day in the field, or the worst day in the rear “D,” and Ross would come in a room and everybody would be laughing within three minutes.” His teachers too, though not remembering him for scholastic achievement, remembered his charm and personality. His automotive instructor at the Clarion Career Center said that McGinnis was “the type of student that made me proud to be a teacher.”
On his 17th birthday in 2004, Ross McGinnis enlisted for the Army through the Delayed Entry Program. Upon turning 18 and graduating high school, he would officially be enlisted in the Army and ready to ship off to basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia. From Georgia, McGinnis moved to Schweinfurt, Germany, with the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment. That is where McGinnis claimed his second life was, “I have another group of friends there, and this is where I spent most of my life the past year. In this life is where I met my true love, and my soul mate, Christina Wendel.” From Germany, his regiment was shipped to Baghdad, Iraq. McGinnis served as an M2 .50-caliber machine gunner in 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment. Their mission was to enter the extremely hostile environment of Adhamiyah, Iraq.
McGinnis called his time with the army his third life, “My third life is my army life – yet again another large group of friends, who are more like a bunch of brothers. The kind of brothers you can joke with and cry with. This is where I will be living my life for the next year. It’s not going to be an easy life here in Iraq; I have already had a couple life altering experiences. But they will not change me mentally… I just cannot wait for the day when I can connect all three lives into one. But that day will not be for a long time.” After only being deployed for a short four months, McGinnis made the ultimate sacrifice for his platoon.
On duty that fateful day, December 4, 2006, McGinnis’ platoon was out patrolling the streets of Adhamiyah when an insurgent threw a grenade into the Humvee that McGinnis was gunning. After yelling “Grenade!” in warning to the other members of his team, McGinnis threw himself on top of the grenade in order to absorb the brunt of the explosion. The explosion killed him immediately. Because of his bravery and sacrifice for his team, McGinnis was posthumously promoted to Specialist. He was also awarded the Silver Star (the third highest military honor), the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart while awaiting confirmation of his receiving the Medal of Honor. McGinnis’ other decorations included the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Combat Infantryman Badge.
McGinnis was awarded the Medal of Honor on June 2, 2008, in the East Room of the White House. His mother, father, two sisters, brother-in-law, platoon members, other Medal of Honor winners, and other distinguished guests were in attendance. President Bush conducted the ceremony, with a military aide reading the official citation, which concluded, “Private McGinnis’ gallant action directly saved four men from certain serious injury or death. Private First Class McGinnis’ extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.” McGinnis is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.