The 59th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Is named after Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, the first Marine awarded the Medal of Honor for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dunham was born in Scio, N.Y., Nov. 10, 1981, sharing the same birthday as the U.S. Marine Corps. On April 14, 2004, Dunham’s squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah, Iraq, when his battalion commander’s convoy was ambushed. When Dunham’s squad approached to provide fire support, an Iraqi insurgent leapt out of a vehicle and attacked Dunham. As Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground, he noticed that the enemy fighter had a grenade in his hand and immediately alerted his fellow Marines. When the enemy dropped the live grenade, Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, covered the grenade, and threw himself on top to smother the blast. In an ultimate selfless act of courage, in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of two fellow Marines.

August 1, 2009 PCU Jason Dunham was christened during a 10 a.m. ceremony at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. Debra Dunham served as sponsor of the ship named for her late son. Cmdr. M. Scott Sciretta is the prospective commanding officer.

May 20, 2010 DDG 109 successfully completed a four-days combined builder's and acceptance "super trial" in the Atlantic Ocean.

June 4, U.S. Navy officially accepted delivery of the Jason Dunham from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, during a ceremony in Bath, Maine.

November 13, USS Jason Dunham is commissioned during an 10:00 a.m. ceremony at Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

November 23, The Dunham arrived at its new homeport of Naval Station Norfolk for the first time.

March 25, 2011 USS Jason Dunham and USS Gravely (DDG 107) completed Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT) in the Atlantic Ocean March 17, with technical support for the ships' live-fire missile exercises from NAVSEA warfare centers.

August 25, DDG 109 departed Naval Station Norfolk to avoid the approaching Category 3 Hurricane Irene.

March 19, 2012 USS Jason Dunham is currently underway for a Group Sail operations as part of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) CSG.

April 24, The guided-missile destroyer is currently underway for a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX).