Baldomero López

Shielded fellow Marines from a live grenade at Inchon beach.

Born in Tampa, Florida, on 23 August 1925, López grew up in Ybor City and attended Hillsborough High School. He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and entered the Naval Academy the following year. He graduated with the accelerated class of 1948-A in June 1947 and was commissioned in the Marine Corps. After training at Quantico, he served in China as a mortar section and rifle platoon commander. He returned to Camp Pendleton and volunteered for Korean service.

Baldomero López received a posthumous Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life to protect his Marines during the Inchon landing. On 15 September 1950, the first lieutenant led a rifle platoon in Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

After landing with the assault waves, his platoon attacked the immediate beach defenses. He moved beside a bunker to throw a grenade into a pillbox whose fire had pinned down that sector. Wounded in the shoulder and chest, he dropped the grenade. Unable to throw it clear, he pulled it beneath his body and absorbed the explosion.

López died that day at Inchon and was buried in Centro Asturiana Memorial Park in Tampa. Navy Secretary Dan A. Kimball presented his Medal of Honor to his parents at the Pentagon on 30 August 1951. His citation commemorates the decision that saved his men from the grenade. In April 2023, South Korea awarded him the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit, its highest military honor; his nephew received it on his behalf.

Official Medal of Honor Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a rifle platoon commander of Company A, in action against enemy aggressor forces. With his platoon 1st Lt. Lopez was engaged in the reduction of immediate enemy beach defenses after landing with the assault waves. Exposing himself to hostile fire, he moved forward alongside a bunker and prepared to throw a hand grenade into the next pillbox whose fire was pinning down that sector of the beach.

Taken under fire by an enemy automatic weapon and hit in the right shoulder and chest as he lifted his arm to throw, he fell backward and dropped the deadly missile. After a moment, he turned and dragged his body forward in an effort to retrieve the grenade and throw it.

In critical condition from pain and loss of blood, and unable to grasp the hand grenade firmly enough to hurl it, he chose to sacrifice himself rather than endanger the lives of his men and, with a sweeping motion of his wounded right arm, cradled the grenade under him and absorbed the full impact of the explosion. His exceptional courage, fortitude, and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon 1st Lt. Lopez and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.