Eugene A. Obregon

He shielded a wounded Marine from enemy fire in Seoul, 1950.

Eugene Arnold Obregon was born in Los Angeles, California, on 12 November 1930. He served as a private first class in Company G, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division during the Korean War.

In Seoul on 26 September 1950, Obregon left cover with only a pistol to reach a wounded Marine. He dragged the man to the roadside and began bandaging him. When enemy troops approached, Obregon took the wounded man's carbine and shielded him with his own body while firing. Machine-gun fire killed Obregon, but his actions allowed fellow Marines to rescue the casualty and repel the attack.

His parents received his posthumous Medal of Honor at the Pentagon on 30 August 1951. Obregon is buried in Calvary Cemetery in East Los Angeles. His citation commemorates his protection of a wounded comrade.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company G, in action against enemy aggressor forces. While serving as an ammunition carrier of a machine-gun squad in a marine rifle company which was temporarily pinned down by hostile fire, Pfc. Obregon observed a fellow marine fall wounded in the line of fire. Armed only with a pistol, he unhesitating dashed from his covered position to the side of the casualty. Firing his pistol with one hand as he ran, he grasped his comrade 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's carbine, 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, Pfc. Obregon enabled his fellow marines to rescue the wounded man and aided essentially in repelling the attack, thereby sustaining and enhancing the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.