The Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center will dedicate a state-of-the-art mess hall Tuesday in honor of a Twentynine Palms Marine who was the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Iraq War. Cpl. Jason L. Dunham is also the first Marine to receive the honor since the Vietnam War. On April 14, 2004, Corporal Dunham was on a reconnaissance mission with his squad from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental Combat Team-7, from Twentynine Palms, when they encountered insurgents in Karabilah. Dunham was in hand-to-hand combat with an insurgent when he saw the insurgent release a grenade. Corporal Dunham threw himself on top of the grenade to save his fellow Marines. Dunham was severely wounded, and died eight days later. Corporal Dunham also has an Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer naval ship named after him, the USS Jason Dunham.
