An Emotional President Bush Announces Posthumous Medal of Honor

ABC News’ Karen Travers reports: A visibly emotional President Bush announced this afternoon that he will award a posthumous Medal of Honor to Corporal Jason Dunham, who died on April 22, 2004, eight days after jumping on a grenade in Karabilah, Iraq.

“As long as we have Marines like Corporal Dunham, America will never fear for her liberty. And as long as we have this fine museum, America will never forget their sacrifice,” the President said.

After stepping back from the podium, President Bush wiped his left cheek, just below his eye, and bit the inside of his mouth, something he has done in the past when trying to contain his emotion.

President Bush was in Quantico for the dedication and opening of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, on the 231st birthday of the Marines.

It was also the birthday of Corporal Dunham, a native of Scio, New York who would have turned 25 today. The White House released the following on him:

When a nearby Marine convoy was ambushed, Corporal Dunham led his squad to the site of the attack, where he and his men stopped a convoy of cars trying to make an escape.  As he moved to search one of the vehicles, an insurgent jumped out and grabbed the corporal by the throat.  The corporal engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat.  At one point, he shouted to his fellow Marines, "No. No. No. Watch his hand."  Moments later, an enemy grenade rolled out and Corporal Dunham jumped on the grenade to protect his fellow Marines, using his helmet and body to absorb the blast. Corporal Dunham succumbed to his wounds on April 22, 2004.

This medal will be presented to the Dunham family at an upcoming ceremony at the White House. It will be the second Medal of Honor awarded for Iraq and the seventh the President has awarded since taking office.

Dunham’s parents were at Quantico today and the President acknowledged their loss.

“We remember that the Marine that so freely gave his life was your beloved son,” he said. “We ask a loving God to comfort you for a loss that can never be replaced.”

Bush: Medals of Honor
The President has already awarded 6 Medals of Honor: 3 for Vietnam, one for World War II, one for Korea and one for Iraq.

The first Medal of Honor for Iraq went to Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith who was killed in Iraq on April 3, 2003. President Bush gave the medal to his family at the White House on April 4, 2005.

The Medal of Honor, established by Joint Resolution of Congress, is awarded in the name of Congress to a person who, while a member of the Armed Forces, distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.