The Last Illinois Medal of Honor Recipient

Russell Dunham lived quietly in Jerseyville, Illinois. To look at this 89-year-old man, no one would ever realize that he had been injured in France during World War II. He received the highest congressional honor for those injuries in 1945.

According to the citation, Mr. Dunham spearheaded a successful diversionary attack against the Germans by throwing a grenade. Few people survive such experiences let alone live so long to die of heart failure in their own home.

Mr. Dunham passed away on April 06, 2009. He was the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient in Illinois.