Robert Emmett O'Malley

Wounded in battle he stayed to protect his departing Marines

Robert Emmett O'Malley was born in New York City on 3 June 1943 and grew up in Queens. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 11 October 1961, trained at Parris Island and Camp Pendleton, and served on Okinawa with the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines. Returning to California in 1964, he earned the Good Conduct Medal after three years of service.

On 18 August 1965, Corporal O'Malley of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines earned the Medal of Honor near An Cuong 2, South Vietnam, by attacking an entrenched enemy and protecting wounded Marines. He crossed an exposed rice paddy, entered a trench and fought with his rifle and grenades before helping an adjacent unit. He then assisted casualty evacuation and returned to the heaviest fighting. Wounded three times, O'Malley gathered his remaining squad and led them to helicopters. He stayed in an exposed position to cover their boarding, accepting evacuation only after his wounded men were safely removed. His award recognizes both decisive offensive action and responsibility for his squad.

After treatment for his wounds, O'Malley returned to Camp Pendleton. He became a sergeant in December 1965 and left active service in 1966. President Lyndon B. Johnson presented his Medal of Honor in Austin, Texas, on 6 December 1966. He later settled in Texas and joined the Military Order of the Purple Heart's Austin chapter in 2000.

Medal of Honor 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 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, Sgt. 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, singlehandedly 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, Sgt. 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 helicopters 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.