[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 70 (Thursday, May 7, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1083]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 MOURNING THE PASSING OF RUSSELL DUNHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 2009

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passing of an 
American hero.
  Russell Dunham passed away on April 6, 2009, at his home in 
Jerseyville, Illinois. He is survived by his daughter, Mary Lee Neal 
and her husband Kerry, his stepdaughter Annette Wilson and her husband 
Glenn, and his stepson, David Bazzell. Mr. Dunham had three 
grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, three brothers and three 
sisters. Today they have my condolences, those of this House and those 
of a grateful nation. He was preceded in death by his wife, Wilda, two 
granddaughters, five brothers and two sisters.
  Mr. Dunham served our nation in the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, 
part of General Patton's Third Army during World War II. In January 
1945, near Kayserberg, France, Technical Sergeant Dunham single-
handedly silenced three German machine guns. Leading his platoon 
forward through the snow, Sergeant Dunham raced 75 yards through heavy 
fire to assault a well-emplaced enemy position. Attacking the first 
gun, Sergeant Dunham was seriously wounded by machine gun fire, but he 
kept up his assault, silencing first one, then another, and then the 
third and final enemy emplacement, using his 175 rounds from his 
carbine and 11 grenades.
  Despite his wounds, Sergeant Dunham kept moving forward from one 
position to the next, risking his life above and beyond the call of 
duty. For his ``conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity,'' Technical 
Sergeant Russell Dunham, earned the Medal of Honor from the grateful 
nation he helped to save.
  After the war, Mr. Dunham spent more than three decades helping area 
veterans through his work with the Department of Veterans Affairs. He 
raised a family, and was an active member of the VFW and AMVETS. He 
will be dearly missed by his family and his community, and his service 
and sacrifice will continue to earn the gratitude of all Americans.

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