AS a retired Gunny and school teacher, I admit I have shed tears as I read this story and viewed the memorial. I just missed going to DESERT STORM (It was over before I could get there)

The Cpl had more courage than most, the final sentence he said or wrote, “I re enlisted so ( his friend) would get home safe and see his wife” NO greater gift than to die for your friend.
GOD BLESS CPL DUNHAM,

Gunny Taylor (ret)

Like or Dislike: 0  0

I think Mr. Blast is hateful and abusive, although I realize now his post was not addressed to me. I thought it was at first and became so upset that I vowed NEVER to post on this site again. The Blast may go off on me. I have better sites to post on i.e. the Vietnam Nurse Haven.

Thank you RED 73. Blast off blast! Either get therapy as I have or get a life. Apply your first implied profanity sentence to Russ to yourself.

Took it personally, I am done with this site.

Rest in peace Corporal Dunham. This was about you, but a few abusive maniacs occasionally get through.

Signing off for good.

Like or Dislike: 0  0

russ: Thank you for reminding me of Cpl Dunham…

Remember how the TARDs would slander the ‘volunteers‘ in our armed forces for their alledged ignorance and so forth?”

You know… you should have shut the f up after the thank you part. Blah Blah Blah political posturing in a post to honor someone.

Cpl Dunham is an American Hero… PERIOD. No more need to be said on the right or left. He belongs to the ages… RIP

Like or Dislike: 0  0

Lola,
Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.
A real old patriot.
 

Like or Dislike: 0  0

I was a nurse in 1968 in Vietnam at the 67th Evac.  There just is not enough we could or can do for those who have fought in our wars–volunteers, drafted, survivors, wounded– physically and mentally, and deceased– during or after their service.  Cpl. Dunham represents the greatest of the youth (and military of all ages) our country has to offer and they do offer–over and over again. 

These men and women were my patients in 1968 and still are.  I made a small contribution to their wellbeing–as best I could–on our medical and surgical wards in Qui Nhon.  I felt unworthy to consider myself a veteran entitled to VA care and suppressed my memories and feelings associated with them–until I fell apart and lost my college teaching career. 

I receive mental health care for PTSD and depression  at my local VA hospital now and I choose to remain in a therapy group of  combat male vets.  I see first hand that the men are still suffering.  I feel more of a comrade to them than ever before.  I need these guys and I hope they need me.

I have had two chances to thank special veterans.  My husband and I spotted a “Bataan Survivor” license plate on a car in an Office Max parking lot.  When we saw the only possible man of the age consistent with WWII, we grabbed him (gently) and shook his hand.  Today in Wal-Mart I saw a young marine in a standard dress (tan shirt and blue pants with red stripe) uniform.  I shook his hand and he shook mine.  God be with  him and all our military–male and female.

My daughter served in 4th ID at Ft. Hood for 4 years and just missed deployment by months. Her fiance served two tours in Iraq as a Captain tank company commander.     Now he is a CPA as a civilian.   My husband served part of his tour in Thailand in 1973 loading bombs on B-52s, then as an enlisted aide to a General the rest of his tour.  He now works as a civilian at Barksdale AFB as Executive Housekeeper of Barksdale Inn.  One of his brothers is a Physician’s Assistant in the Air Force reserve and just completed his second TDY to Baghdad.  My father-in-law served in Patton’s 3rd Army and helped liberate concentration camps first hand–he never recovered emotionally.

Naming a destroyer after him is the LEAST we can do for Jason.  I hope you are at peace and are aware somehow of how much we honor and respect you Corporal Dunham and all who rest with you.

Like or Dislike: 0  0

Thank you for reminding me of Cpl Dunham…

Remember how the TARDs would slander the ‘volunteers‘ in our armed forces for their alledged ignorance and so forth?

Funny how a little light shed on that particular bit of vile slander was debunked but it didn’t get into the MSM at all…

Consider the following from the Heritage Foundation: Who Are the Recruits? The Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Military Enlistment, 2003–2005

Consider the contents of the first two paragraphs:

A pillar of conventional wisdom about the U.S. military is that the quality of volunteers has been degraded after the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Examples of the voices making this claim range from the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and New York Daily News [1] to Michael Moore’s pseudo-documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. Some insist that minorities and the underprivileged are over­represented in the military. Others accuse the U.S. Army of accepting unqualified enlistees in a futile attempt to meet its recruiting goals in the midst of an unpopular war.[2]

A report published by The Heritage Foundation in November 2005 examined the issue and could not substantiate any degradation in troop quality by comparing military enlistees in 1999 to those in 2003. It is possible that troop quality did not degrade until after the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003, when patriotism was high. A common assumption is that the Army experienced difficulty getting qualified enlistees in 2005 and was subse­quently forced to lower its standards. This report revisits the issue by examining the full recruiting classes for all branches of the U.S. military for every year from 2003 to 2005…

Like or Dislike: 0  0

Semper Fi JLD!

Like or Dislike: 0  0

fantastic post.

Cpl Jason L Dunham – RIP

Semper Fi

Like or Dislike: 0  0

My heart simultaneously burst with pride and aches with sorrow for the Dunham family. He was truly one who I wish did not have to exit the planet so young.

Stories of our young men and women like Cpl Dunham renew my faith in humans. I hope the rest of our Cpl Dunhams come home to secure the future of the America they fought to preserve.

Like or Dislike: 0  0