- Eugene A. Obregon
Infobox Military Person
name= Eugene Arnold Obregon
born= birth date|1930|11|12
died= death date and age|1950|9|26|1930|11|12
placeofbirth=Los Angeles, California
placeofdeath=Killed in action inSeoul, Korea
placeofburial=
caption= Eugene A. Obregon, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= 1948-1950
rank=Private First Class
commands=
unit= 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines
battles=Korean War *Battle of Inchon *Battle of Seoul
awards=Medal of Honor Purple Heart
laterwork=Eugene Arnold Obregon (November 12, 1930 – September 26, 1950) was a
United States Marine who was posthumously awarded theUnited States ' highest military decoration for valor — theMedal of Honor — for sacrificing his life to save that of a wounded comrade during theBattle of Seoul . On September 26, 1950, Private First Class Obregon was fatally wounded by enemymachine gun fire while using his body to shield a wounded fellow Marine.Biography
Eugene Arnold Obregon, who was of Mexican American descent, was born on November 12, 1930 in
Los Angeles, California (L.A.) He attended elementary school and high school,Theodore Roosevelt High School (Los Angeles) , in L.A. before enlisting in theUnited States Marine Corps on June 7, 1948, at the age of 17. [ [http://www.medalofhonor.com/EugeneObregon.htm Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Pfc. Eugene Arnold Obregon, USMC ] ]Following
recruit training at theMarine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego , California, he was assigned to the Marine Corps Supply Depot inBarstow, California , where he served as afireman until the outbreak of the war in Korea. He was transferred to the 1st Marine Provisional Brigade and served as amachine gun ammunition carrier. His unit departed the United States on July 14, 1950 and arrived at Pusan, Korea on August 3, 1950.He was in action by August 8, 1950, along the Naktong River, and participated in the Inchon landing. Then, on September 26, 1950, during the assault on the city of Seoul he was killed in action while using his body to shield a wounded fellow Marine. For this action, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
The Medal of Honor was presented to PFC Obregon's parents by
Secretary of the Navy Daniel A. Kimball on August 30, 1951.The wounded comrade was PFC Bert M. Johnson, 19, of Grand Prairie, Texas. He was hospitalized, recovered, and returned to duty in the United States at
Camp Lejeune , North Carolina.In addition to the Medal of Honor, PFC Obregon also was posthumously awarded the
Purple Heart , Presidential Unit Citation, andKorean Service Medal with three bronze stars.Medal of Honor citation
The
President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS EUGENE A. OBREGON UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company G, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces at
/S/ HARRY S. TRUMANSeoul, Korea , on September 26, 1950. While serving as anammunition carrier of amachine gun squad in a Marine Rifle Company which was temporarily pinned down by hostile fire, Private First Class Obregon observed a fellow Marine fall wounded in the line of fire. Armed only with a pistol, he unhesitatingly dashed from his covered position to the side of the casualty. Firing his pistol with one hand as he ran, he grasped his comrades by the arm with his other hand and, despite the great peril to himself, dragged him to the side of the road. Still under enemy fire, he was bandaging the man's wounds when hostile troops of approximately platoon strength began advancing toward his position. Quickly seizing the wounded Marine'scarbine , he placed his own body as a shield in front of him and lay there firing accurately and effectively into the hostile group until he himself was fatally wounded by enemy machine-gun fire. By his courageous fighting spirit, fortitude and loyal devotion to duty, Private First Class Obregon enabled his fellow Marines to rescue the wounded man and aided essentially in repelling the attack, thereby sustaining the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.Namesakes and Honors
A US Navy ship, a school, a Marine Corps
barracks , anAmerican Legion post, and three parks have been named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Eugene Obregon. *Sullivan, Deborah. [http://www.medalofhonor.com/EugeneObregon.htmEugene Arnold Obregon, Medal of Honor Recipient: He Gallantly Gave His Life for His Country, In Memory of a Hero East L.A. Man is Focus of Planned Monument to Latino Medal Winners] ,"Los Angeles Times ", June 28, 1994. Posted on MedalOfHonor.com — Retrieved on2006-06-29 . ]
*The Maritime Prepositioning ship SS Pfc. Eugene A. Obregon (T-AK 3006) entered into service in January 1985. [ [http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/ships.asp?ship=132&type=ContainerRollonRolloffShip MSC Ship Inventory: SS PFC Eugene A. Obregon (T-AK 3006)] , United States Navy. Retrieved on2006-06-29 . ] [ [http://navysite.de/ak/ak3006.htm SS PFC Eugene A. Obregon (T-AK 3006)] , NavySite.de. Retrieved on2006-06-29 . ]
*The park just outside of the main gate of the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California, Yermo Annex is named in honor of Obregon. [Hurt, LCpl Andy J. [http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/hispanic2003/marinecorps.html Park Dedicated to Hispanic Medal of Honor Recipient First Class Eugene A. Oberegon] , Marine Corps Times, October 9, 2003. Retrieved on2006-06-29 .]
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