If the Army and the Navy ever gaze on Heaven's scenes ... (Updated and bumped.)
Contributed by Bill Faith
Corporal Jason Dunham to be awarded MOH Thursday
Posted By Blackfive
Looks like Marine Corporal Jason Dunham will be awarded the MOH (posthumously) on Thursday by President Bush. He'll be the first Marine to receive the MOH in over 30 years for throwing himself on a grenade to protect his fellow Marines. More at the Marine Corps Times.
There's so much more to Dunham than the awarding of the medal. He's been a subject of the milblogosphere for awhile (links) and is one of the men that The Blog of War is dedicated to...suffice it to say that he lived and died honoring the Marine Corps code. ...
*** Marine To Be Awarded The Medal Of Honor
Posted by Curt
The first Marine to be awarded the Medal Of Honor since Vietnam will get it this Thursday from President Bush: The president will present the Medal of Honor to the family of Cpl. Jason Dunham during a ceremony in the White House’s East Room on Thursday, according to White House officials.
Dunham was an infantryman assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, when he was severely wounded in Karabilah, Iraq, on April 14, 2004, after smothering an enemy grenade with his body and helmet to save fellow Marines. He succumbed to his wounds eight days later.
“By giving his own life, Corporal Dunham saved the lives of two of his men and showed the world what it means to be a Marine,” President Bush said during his Nov. 10 announcement that Dunham would posthumously receive the nation’s highest decoration for combat heroism.
Dunham becomes the first Marine to earn the Medal of Honor in more than 30 years and one of only two U.S. service members to be awarded the medal since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began.
Blackfive notes that Cpl Dunham was the genesis for this poem written by a Navy surgeon while in Iraq: ...
Read the whole thing. I've always wondered what it feels like to be a Marine. Curt knows.
Don't forget to follow Curt's link to Kit's post here.
THE FINAL INSPECTION
The soldier stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Author unknown.
*** Updated and bumped. Original timestamp 2007.01.09.15.58
It's good to see Mary Katharine Ham giving Cpl. Dunham some non-MilBlogs publicity here.
Don't even think about missing Greyhawk's post here.
***
The Department of Defense page on Cpl. Dunham is here. Video of the White House ceremony is accessible here. (Hat tip: Scott Johnson)
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