--- title: "What happens when you cover an enemy grenade with your kevlar" date: "2018-05-20" modified: "2020-10-22" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/tactical/what-happens-when-you-cover-an-enemy-grenade-with-your-kevlar/" categories: - "Heroes" - "History" - "Iraq War" - "Medal of Honor" - "War History" tags: - "Iraq War" - "Medal of Honor" - "Technology" --- # What happens when you cover an enemy grenade with your kevlar ![grenade kevlar]() *On the table is what remained of Cpl. Dunham's kevlar helmet after taking a full grenade blast.* In April 2004, a convoy of Marines came under small arms and RPG fire near Karabilah, Iraq. Marines from Camp Husaybah were subsequently dispatched to search for the attackers. While searching vehicles for weapons at a checkpoint, one Marine was assaulted by an unknown Iraqi holding a grenade. That Marine was Cpl. Jason Dunham. The two fell to the ground. From the Iraqi's hand came a live grenade. [Dunham threw himself on top of it](), covering the grenade with his Kevlar helmet and his body. When it exploded, the grenade shredded his helmet and mortally wounded the 22-year-old Dunham. He died a few days later, on Apr. 22, 2004. Jason Dunham did what he thought was the right thing to do: heroically throwing himself on a grenade to save others. The selfless act rightfully earned him the Medal of Honor, which was presented to his family by President George W. Bush in January 2007. A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer now bears his name (and his dress uniform, complete with Medal of Honor, is on its quarterdeck). ![]() *Dunham (left) posthumously received the Medal of Honor. An Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer was named USS Jason Dunham in his honor. He was the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Navy)* Using the Kevlar helmet did blunt the explosion, according to a Wall Street Journal reporter who followed Dunham's story very closely. But the shrapnel pierced Dunham's skull, and he suffered heavy brain damage. No one else in the area received life-threatening injuries. What makes the story even more remarkable is that Cpl. Dunham and his fellow Marines [had been talking about the very same eventuality]() just a few days prior — what to do in case you have to respond to a grenade attack. One Marine advised kicking it away. Another said to drop and make yourself a small target for the fragments with your feet facing the grenade. Dunham's response to the real-life situation was precisely what he said it should be: He covered it with his helmet. Is that the best way to handle a grenade? No, but [in the opinion of other infantry veterans, Dunham did the right thing](). Anyone who covers a grenade with their Kevlar is going to be severely wounded. And, chances are, Dunham would probably have been killed by the grenade regardless due to his proximity. But his helmet likely absorbed all of the grenade's shrapnel and allowed his fellow Marines to come out relatively unscathed. But what do you do if you don't have a hero like a Jason Dunham to throw himself on a grenade and save you? Dan Rosenthal, an infantry veteran and three-time top Quora writer, has some advice for those who face a grenade without any cover to hide behind. First and foremost, don't try to throw it back. And you only have about three to five seconds of reaction time, so running isn't an option. Basically, expect to get hit – but minimize where and how much you're hit to maximize your chances of survival. If you didn't dig your defensive fighting position with a grenade sump, the best thing you can do is get down on the ground with your Kevlar pointed toward the blast. Helmets (and modern shoulder pads) were designed to protect from fragmentation. ![]() *Might be worth the effort.* Your second-best bet is to put your feet toward the blast. This technique is most notable for civilians falling victim to a terrorist attack that uses grenades. Minimize exposure to the blast and make yourself a small target for the fragmentation. ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()