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Parris Island, Kings Bay to honor Dunham

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Cpl. Jason Dunham, the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor in the Iraq war, earned the title Marine at the recruit depot in Parris Island, S.C.

Now, recruits enduring the 54-hour Crucible event there will pass through a warrior station named in his honor.

Dunham died in April 2004, 10 days after he jumped on a grenade in Iraq, covering it with his helmet and body. He saved at least two lives by his quick actions during the struggle with an insurgent near the Syrian border in Karabilah, Iraq.

He will be honored at two separate ceremonies Aug. 16 at Parris Island.

One of the Crucible’s 37 warrior stations, where recruits focus on practical applications of the Corps’ martial arts program, will be named “Dunham’s Defense.” His Medal of Honor citation will be posted at the beginning of the obstacle.

Dunham will be honored during a second ceremony at the Wall of Heroes, which displays the photos and citations of five other Medal of Honor recipients who were also members of 2nd Recruit Training Battalion.

His family and members of his unit, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, will be in attendance, according to a depot media release.

Dunham’s family will attend another ceremony Aug. 17 at his first duty assignment in Kings Bay, Ga., where the Marine Corps Security Force Company will dedicate its barracks in his memory. Dunham was assigned to the security force from 2001 to 2003 before he transferred to Twentynine Palms, Calif.