The USS Jason Dunham
The legacy of a Machinist's grandson, killed while serving in Iraq, will soon grace the high seas. Thousands gathered at Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine, to watch the mother of USMC Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, joined by members of his family and the U.S. Marine Corps., christen the DDG Arleigh BUrke class destroyer that now bears the 22-year-olds name.
The USS Jason Dunham was ceremoniously launched into the Kennebec River marking the beginning of a lasting tribute to Cpl. Dunham's courageous act during reconnaissance mission in 2004.
Cpl. Dunham died after covering an enemy hand grenade with his helmet and then his body in order to shield his fellow Marines from the blast. He was the first Marine since the Vietnam war to receive the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for bravery.
Cpl. Dunham was the grandson of IAM Local 2741 member Skip Dunham of Hornell, NY. The destroyer was built by IAM Local S6 members at Bath Iron Works.
