Celebrate the Life of a Hero, Support the Commissioning of the USS Dunham
Michael Phillips, Author of 'The Gift of Valor,' in Town for Three Book Signings in Conjunction with U.S.S. Jason Dunham
WHAT:
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Michael M. Phillips, a staff reporter for the Wall Street Journal, has done four tours in Iraq with the Third Battalion, Seventh Marines. He was covering them when Marine Corporal Jason Dunham, 22, threw his helmet and himself on a live grenade in April 2004 during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Karabilah, Iraq, sustaining massive injuries that took his life eight days later. In 2005, Phillips published a detailed account of what happened in his book “The Gift of Valor.” In 2006, Corporal Dunham was posthumously awarded The Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.
Phillips will appear at three book signings in support of the Official Commissioning Ceremony for the Navy’s newest guided missile destroyer, the U.S.S. Jason Dunham (DDG 109), which will take place on November 13 at Port Everglades, the culmination of more than a week of local events celebrating the life and spirit of Corporal Dunham.
DETAILS:
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Friday, October 8, 2010
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six Resort & Spa
2301 S.E. 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Noon – 3 p.m.
The Galleria Mall
2414 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Antique Car Museum
1527 SW 1st Avenue, Fort Lauderdale
(Part of the “Roarin’ 20’s Fundraiser” for the Fort Lauderdale Council of the Navy League; cost to attend fundraiser is $95)
COST: Signed books will be given away for a minimum $10 tax-deductible donation, which will be used to defray costs of commissioning, which is being hosted and organized by Navy League of the United States, Fort Lauderdale Council, in conjunction with other South Florida Area Navy League Councils
Visit www.jasondunhamuss.com for more details.
The USS Jason Dunham, the Navy’s most advanced warship will be commissioned in Port Everglades on November 13. The event is expected to draw thousands to the port. The last time a ship was commissioned in Port Everglades was in 2005 and drew a crowd of 5,000. Hopes are high that this commissioning will draw a larger crowd of patriotic Americans when they hear the story behind this ship’s name.
The warship is named after heroic United States Marine Corporal Jason Dunham who served with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (3/7), during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
While in combat in Iraq an insurgent threw a grenade that landed next to Dunham. To protect his fellow marines who were in close proximity Dunham sacrificed himself and without hesitation dove on top of the grenade. He sustained serious injuries from the blast and died eight days later, he was 22.
During the dedication of the National Museum of the Marine Corp. on November 10, 2006 (the Marine Corp. birthday and coincidentally Dunham’s birthday as well) President George W. Bush announced Dunham would be awarded the Medal of Honor, making him the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first Marine to receive the medal since the Vietnam War.
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is awarded to members of the armed forces who distinguish themselves at the risk of their life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy.
President George W. Bush issued the Medal of Honor Citation Posthumous on January 11, 2007 where he said, “As long as we have Marines like Corporal Dunham, America will never fear for her liberty.”