Bruno R. Orig

Private Bruno Raymond Abing Orig

Bruno Raymond Abing Orig was born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, in January 1930. He was one of eight children in a Filipino-American family with a strong tradition of military service. His father, Hilario Orig, his stepfather, Leon Omboy, and several of his brothers served in the United States armed forces. Orig attended Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High School and graduated in 1949.

He enlisted in the United States Army in August 1950, shortly after the outbreak of the Korean War. Trained as a light-weapons infantryman, he was posted to Company G, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. Within months he was fighting in Korea as part of the United Nations effort to repel the North Korean and Chinese forces.

On 15 February 1951, during the Battle of Chipyong-ni, Orig was returning from a wire-laying mission when he encountered several wounded American soldiers under continuing enemy fire. Disregarding his own safety, he remained exposed while administering first aid and then helped carry the wounded to safety.

While returning for another casualty, Orig discovered that nearly every member of a machine-gun crew had been wounded. He volunteered to take over the weapon and delivered such effective fire that an American platoon was able to withdraw without suffering a casualty. Orig continued firing as Chinese forces overran the company’s position.

When American troops recovered the ground later that day, they found the 20-year-old private dead beside his machine gun. Several enemy soldiers lay dead in front of his position. He was buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.

Orig was initially awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army’s second-highest decoration for valour. In 2021, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed a review of awards made to minority service members whose actions might have warranted the Medal of Honor. Following that review, Orig’s Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded. On 3 January 2025, President Joe Biden presented the Medal of Honor posthumously to Orig’s sister, Loretta Orig, at the White House. U.S. Army biography and official citation⁠, Congressional announcement⁠.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Private Bruno R. Orig distinguished himself while serving with Company G, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, near Chipyong-ni, Korea, on 15 February 1951. Returning from a wire-laying mission, he went to the aid of wounded comrades while the enemy attack was still in progress. He administered first aid from an exposed position and helped remove the wounded to safety.

Finding a machine-gun crew almost entirely disabled, Orig volunteered to man the weapon. His accurate and sustained fire enabled a friendly platoon to withdraw without a single casualty. He continued firing until the position was overrun. When the ground was recovered, Orig was found dead beside his weapon with several enemy dead before his position. His courage and selflessness reflected the highest traditions of the United States Army.