Jason Dunham
A young Marine who, without a moment's hesitation, used his own body to shield his squad from a grenade blast in Iraq.
1981–2004 (age 23)·United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient·Birthday: November 10·Millennials
Biography
Jason Dunham grew up in Scio, New York, a small-town kid who enlisted in the Marines after high school. By 2004, he was a 22-year-old corporal leading a rifle squad in the volatile town of Husaybah near the Syrian border. On April 14, his unit responded to an attack on a convoy. During the ensuing close-quarters scuffle with an insurgent, a grenade was dropped. With seconds to react, Dunham shouted a warning to his men, then threw himself onto the explosive, using his helmet and body to contain the blast. The act of supreme self-sacrifice saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines. Severely wounded, he was evacuated but never regained consciousness, dying eight days later. In 2007, President George W. Bush presented the Medal of Honor to Dunham's parents, cementing his legacy as a defining hero of the Iraq War.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jason was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jason Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Jason's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Died at 23
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
Key Achievements
- Awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on April 14, 2004, near Husaybah, Iraq.
- His sacrifice directly saved the lives of at least two members of his Marine squad.
- The US Navy named a guided-missile destroyer, the USS *Jason Dunham* (DDG-109), in his honor.
Did You Know?
He promised his parents he would either return home a Marine or not return at all.
Dunham was promoted posthumously from lance corporal to corporal.
His story is detailed in the book 'The Gift of Valor' by Michael M. Phillips.
“I'll take care of it. Pass the word.”
