Robert Emmett O’Malley

Infobox Military Person
name= Robert Emmett O'Malley
born= birth date and age|1943|6|3
died=
placeofbirth= New York City
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption= Sgt Robert E. O'Malley, Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
allegiance= flagicon|United States United States of America
branch=United States Marine Corps
serviceyears=
rank= Sergeant
commands=
unit= 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment
battles= Vietnam War
awards= Medal of Honor Purple Heart
laterwork=Sergeant Robert Emmett O’Malley (born June 3, 1943) is a United States Marine who was the first Marine Corps recipient of the Medal of Honor — the United States' highest military decoration — during the Vietnam War for conspicuous gallantry in combat as a corporal in Vietnam on August 18, 1965.

Biography

Robert Emmett O’Malley was born on June 3, 1943 in New York City, New York. He was raised and attended school in the Woodside, Queens section of New York City. Ironically, O'Malley attended kindergarten with Lance Corporal Thomas P. Noonan, Jr., who would also be awarded the Medal of Honor in Vietnam, albeit posthumously.

Enlisting in the United States Marine Corps on October 11, 1961, he completed recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. He then transferred to Camp Pendleton, California, O'Malley served with the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was promoted to private first class in May 1962.

The following year, he arrived on Okinawa as a member of the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. While there, he was promoted to Lance Corporal in March 1963, and to Corporal in November 1963. He returned to Camp Pendleton in 1964 as a member of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. In October 1964, he was awarded a Good Conduct Medal upon completing three years of satisfactory service in the Marine Corps.

Corporal O’Malley was transferred overseas again in 1965 and took part in combat in Vietnam while assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He was promoted to Sergeant in December 1965.

On December 6, 1966, Sgt O'Malley was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson at the Federal Building in Austin, Texas. [cite web |url=http://www.purpleheartaustin.org/omalley.htm |accessdate=2007-02-25
title=Robert E. O'Malley
work=Purple Heart Austin War Stories
publisher= Military Order of the Purple Heart, Texas Capital Chapter 1919] [cite web
url=http://www.homeofheroes.com/e-books/moh_living/page_41.html |accessdate=2007-02-25
title=United States Marine Corps - Vietnam
work=Living Medal of Honor Recipients
publisher=HomeofHeroes.com] [cite web |accessdate=2007-02-25 |url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=28062
title=Remarks Upon Awarding the Medal of Honor to Sgt. Robert E. O'Malley, USMC
author=Lyndon B. Johnson
date=December 6, 1966
publisher=The American Presidency Project]

Awards and decorations

O'Malley's awards include:

*

*

*

* Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal

* National Defense Service Medal (with one bronze star)

*

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
CORPORAL ROBERT E. O'MALLEY UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the communist {Viet Cong} forces at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Squad Leader in Company I, Third Battalion, Third Marines, Third Marine Division (Reinforced) near An Cu'ong 2, South Vietnam, on August 18, 1965. While leading his squad in the assault against a strongly entrenched enemy force, his unit came under intense small arms fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Corporal O'Malley raced across an open rice paddy to a trench line where the enemy forces were located. Jumping into the trench, he attacked the Viet Cong with his rifle and grenades, and singly killed eight of the enemy. He then led his squad to the assistance of an adjacent Marine unit which was suffering heavy casualties. Continuing to press forward, he reloaded his weapon and fired with telling effect into the enemy emplacement. He personally assisted in the evacuation of several wounded Marines, and again regrouping the remnants of his squad, he returned to the point of the heaviest fighting. Ordered to an evacuation point by an officer, Corporal O'Malley gathered his besieged and badly wounded squad, and boldly led them under fire to a helicopter for withdrawal. Although three times wounded in this encounter, and facing imminent death from a fanatic and determined enemy, he steadfastly refused evacuation and continued to cover his squad's boarding of the helicopter while, from an exposed position, he delivered fire against the enemy until his wounded men were evacuated. Only then, with his last mission accomplished, did he permit himself to be removed from the battlefield. By his valor, leadership, and courageous efforts in behalf of his comrades, he served as an inspiration to all who observed him, and reflected the highest credit upon the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.

/S/ LYNDON B. JOHNSON

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War

Notes

References

:Marine Corps
*cite web
accessdate=2006-07-03
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/OMalley_RE.htm
title = Sergeat Robert E. O’Malley, USMC
work = Who's Who in Marine Corps history
publisher = History Division, United States Marine Corps
date =

*cite web|accessdate=2006-07-03
url=http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa4005f4ecb?OpenDocument
title=CPL Robert E. O'Malley, Medal of Honor, 1965, 3/3/3, Vietnam (Medal of Honor citation)
work=Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060522220423/http://usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa4005f4ecb?OpenDocument
archivedate=2006-05-22