Warrior Wednesday 2-25

Today's edition of Warrior Wednesday is a special one, for a special breed of man who gives much more than he ever asks for.
This week's honor goes to "doc" John Bradley. Doc fought in the battle of Iwo Jima, was one of six who helped raise the flag on Mount Suribachi, handled over 200 wounded or dying Marines, lost his best friend in the battle who wasn't just killed, he was captured, tortured, mutilated and then killed.
He was the recipient of the Navy Cross (the Nations second highest award for valor), the purple heart and Presidential Unit Citation.

After the battle:
Doc toured the US with the other survivors who raised the flag on a bond raising tour. They collected over $26 Billion towards the war effort.
Doc gave only 1 interview after the war, married his childhood sweetheart, played himself in John Wayne's "Sands of Iwo Jima" along with the other two survivors. And passed away at the age of 70. He was the oldest and last remaining member of the flag raisers. His son was the person who wrote the book which eventually became "The Flags of our Fathers".

His citation for the Navy Cross:

For extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy at Iwo Jima on Feb. 21, 1945 as a hospital corpsman attached to a Marine Rifle platoon. During a furious assault by his company upon a strongly defended enemy zone at the base of Mt. Suribachi, Bradley observed a Marine infantryman fall wounded in an open area under a pounding barrage by mortars, interlaced with a merciless crossfire from Machine guns.
With complete disregard for his own safety, he ran through the intense fire to the side of the fallen Marine, examined his wounds and ascertained that an immediate administration of plasma was necessary to save the man's life. Unwilling to subject any of his comrades to the danger to which he had so valiantly exposed himself, he signaled would-be assistants to remain where they were. Placing himself in a position to shield the wounded man, he tied a plasma unit to a rifle planted upright in the sand and continued his life saving mission.
The Marine's wounds bandaged and the condition of shock relieved by plasma, Bradley pulled the man thirty yards through intense enemy fire to a position of safety. His indomitable spirit, dauntless initiative, and heroic devotion to duty were an inspiration to those with who he served and were in keeping with the highest tradition of the United States Naval Service.

Warrior Wednesday

Every Wednesday, our facebook page picks a highly deserving Warrior to feature. Please check every week to see who's incredible story we share.

This week, 18 Feb. 2015 we are honored to share the story of U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jason Dunham. His citation reads as follows:

"The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor posthumously to:

CORPORAL

JASON L. DUNHAM

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS 

For service as set forth in the following citation: (source)

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Rifle Squad Leader, 4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced), Regimental Combat Team 7, First Marine Division (Reinforced), on 14 April 2004. Corporal Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah, Iraq, when they heard rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire erupt approximately two kilometers to the west. Corporal Dunham led his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards the engagement to provide fire support to their Battalion Commander's convoy, which had been ambushed as it was traveling to Camp Husaybah. As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced, they quickly began to receive enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered his squad to dismount their vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several blocks south of the ambushed convoy. Discovering seven Iraqi vehicles in a column attempting to depart, Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the vehicles to search them for weapons. As they approached the vehicles, an insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham. Corporal Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground and in the ensuing struggle saw the insurgent release a grenade. Corporal Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines to the threat. Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation, Corporal Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. In an ultimate and selfless act of bravery in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service".

Here is how to learn more about Cpl. Dunham and his incredible story by going to his page. Cpl. Dunham's page.

RIP Brave Warrior!

What a start!

Our BIO:

This site is BROUGHT TO YOU BY A VETERAN OWNED AND OPERATED MAN WHO HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY AND NEIGHBORS. RON SERVED IN THE US NAVY ABOARD THE U.S.S TARAWA DURING OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/STORM AND SOMOLIA. AFTER GETTING OUT HE WORKED IN SALES AND STUDIED BOTH FIRE SCIENCE AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE. HE HAS SPENT 12 YEARS AS AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROVIDER (PARAMEDIC ). OVER 8 YEARS OF THAT WAS AS A FIRE FIGHTER.
HE HAS WORKED IN THE DOWNRIVER AREA'S, DETROIT AND DEARBORN. RON CURRENTLY HOLDS THE RANK OF SSG (E-6) IN THE MIVDF (MICHIGAN DEFENSE FORCE)
CERTIFIED IN: TCCC, PHTLS, ACLS, PALS, AHA CPR, AND IN CERT TRAIN THE TRAINER. WITH OVER 100 HOURS DEDICATED THIS YEAR TO CONTINUING EDUCATION TO PERFECTING THE COURSE CURRICULUM THAT IS BEING TAUGHT TO EACH AND EVERY STUDENT WHO WANTS TO LEARN THE LATEST IN TACTICAL MEDICINE.