Corporal Jason Dunham Born to be a Marine

Corporal Jason Dunham shares a birthday with the organization he so proudly served. Dunham was the first veteran to receive the prestigious Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. He selflessly served his country and saved the lives of his fellow Marines when he dove on top of a live grenade to prevent the explosion from harming or killing his friends. He was seriously injured by the explosion and died 8 days later with his parents at his side in a hospital in Bethesda Maryland. On January 11, 2007 President George W. Bush presented his parents with the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House. The following video is a memorial to the life and service of Cpl Dunham:



Happy Birthday Corporal Dunham and to the US Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps traces its institutional roots to the Continental Marines of the American Revolutionary War, formed at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress on 10 November 1775, to raise 2 battalions of Marines. That date is regarded and celebrated as the date of the Marine Corps' "birthday". At the end of the American Revolution, both the Continental Navy and Continental Marines were disbanded in April 1783. Although individual Marines stayed on for the few American naval vessels left, the last Continental Marine was discharged in September 1783. The institution itself would not be resurrected until 1798. In that year, in preparation for the Naval War with France, Congress created the United States Marine Corps. Marines had been enlisted by the War Department as early as August 1797 for service in the new build frigates authorized by Congress. The "Act to provide a Naval Armament" of March 18, 1794 authorizing them had specified the numbers of Marines to be recruited for each frigate.

The Marines' most famous action of this period occurred during the First Barbary War (1801–1805) against the Barbary pirates,when William Eaton and First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon led eight Marines and 500 mercenaries in an effort to capture Tripoli. Though they only reached Derna, the action at Tripoli has been immortalized in the Marines' hymn and the Mameluke Sword carried by Marine officers.

Mike the Marine has an amazing video to celebrate the birthday of the US Marine Corps.  Cassandra has an "Over the Top" roundup of the Marine team blog posts honoring this special day in Marine history.
We are less than $2000 away from meeting the team fundraising goal for Project Valour-IT.  Please consider making your donation today.

Oorah

Follow Cassandra's "Over the Top" thread on Memeorandum