Years of service 1948-1950 Unit 3rd Battalion 5th Marines | Rank Private first class Name Eugene Obregon | |
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Born November 12, 1930Los Angeles, California ( 1930-11-12 ) Died September 26, 1950, Seoul, South Korea Awards | ||
Allegiance United States of America | ||
Emilio rivera speaks at the eugene a obregon medal of honor foundation event
Eugene Arnold Obregon (November 12, 1930 – September 26, 1950) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the United States' highest military decoration for valor — the Medal of Honor — for sacrificing his life to save that of a wounded comrade during the Second Battle of Seoul. On September 26, 1950, Private First Class Obregon was fatally wounded by enemy machine gun fire while using his body to shield a wounded fellow Marine.
Contents
- Emilio rivera speaks at the eugene a obregon medal of honor foundation event
- Csm ramon rodriguez medal of honor nominee eugene a obregon foundation urban melody tv
- Early years
- Medal of Honor
- Decorations
- Foundation
- Namesakes and honors
- References
Csm ramon rodriguez medal of honor nominee eugene a obregon foundation urban melody tv
Early years
Eugene Arnold Obregon, who was of Mexican American descent, was born on November 12, 1930 in Los Angeles, California. He attended elementary school and Theodore Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps on June 7, 1948, at the age of 17.
Following recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, he was assigned to the Marine Corps Supply Depot in Barstow, California, where he served as a fireman until the outbreak of the Korean War. He was transferred to the 1st Marine Provisional Brigade and served as a machine 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.
Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor citation:
Decorations
In addition to the Medal of Honor, PFC Obregon also was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars and the United Nations Service Medal.
Foundation
The Eugene A. Obregon Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation is working to erect a monument in downtown Los Angeles honoring Obregon, 40 Latino Medal of Honor recipients, and all Medal of Honor recipients. The group's goal is to see the monument dedicated on May 22, 2016.
Namesakes and honors
A US Navy ship, a school, a Marine Corps barracks, an American Legion post, and three parks have been named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Eugene Obregon.