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War hero’s legacy lives on |
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Friday, 01 February 2008 |
 Dunham posthumously received the Medal of Honor during a Jan. 11 ceremony. By Joseph Bell
For Roberta Kinkead of Ridgway, memories of her deceased grandson remain strong.
Marine Corporal Jason L. Dunham of Scio, N.Y., was wounded in combat April 14, 2004, and died eight days later at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md.
Dunham sustained his wounds by shielding his fellow Marines from a grenade blast. Dunham set his Kevlar helmet over a live grenade thrown by an Iraqi insurgent and used his body to take the brunt of the explosion.
Kinkead said her grandson’s injuries were extremely severe.
“His brain stem had swollen and his body was shutting down,” Kinkead said.
According to Kinkead, Dunham was flown from Baghdad to Germany, where he received surgery. Afterwards, Dunham was flown to the Bethesda Naval Hospital.
“His parents (Dan and Debra Dunham) got to be with him at the naval hospital,” Kinkead said. “Jason had explicit orders that if he would not be right, then he was to be taken off life-support.”
According to Kinkead, Doctor Heidi Squier Kraft was instrumental in returning Dunham to American soil.
“She got Jason home alive to Debbie,” Kinkead said. “The doctor thought he was going to be gone but when she held his hand, he squeezed it, and when she asked if he could hear her, he squeezed her hand again.”
Kraft has gone on to author a book, “Rule Number Two: Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital,” which includes recounts of Dunham. Also, Wall Street Journal reporter Michael M. Phillips authored a book, “The Gift of Valor: A War Story,” which narrates Dunham’s life and death.
For Dunham’s brave action, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor during a Jan. 11 ceremony.
Over a year later with the emotional wounds still painful, Kinkead said she remains proud of her grandson.
“I’m proud of the boy for what he did but, at the same time, your heart is broken for what he did,” Kinkead said. “We’re not supposed to watch our children or grandchildren be buried, we’re supposed to already be gone when that happens.”
Futhermore, while Dunham served two tours in Iraq, Kinkead said he extended his tour to serve with his unit.
“Jason (Dunham) trained his unit and said since he trained them he was going with them to make sure they made it home,” Kinkead said.
While the emotional scars remain, Kinkead said the family continues to take it day-by-day.
“We’re talking about a boy who called his mom and dad every week so it was good for Debbie that he came home,” Kinkead said. “And she’s starting to sound like her old self again and it gets better with time.” |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 04 February 2008 )
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