Private First Class Eugene A. Obregon

 

Organization: U.S. Marine Corps, Company G, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced)

Place and date: Seoul, Korea, Sept. 26, 1950

Entered service at: Los Angeles, CA

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, CA

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company G, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces at Seoul, Korea, on 26 September 1950.Pfc Obregon's War Department Citation reads as follows:

While serving as an ammunition carrier of a machine gun squad in a Marine rifle company which was temporarily pinned down by hostile fire, Private First Class Obregon observed a fellow Marine fall wounded in the line of fire. Armed only with a pistol, he unhesitatingly 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 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 gunfire.

By his courageous fighting spirit, fortitude and loyal devotion to duty, Private First Class 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 United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Private First Class Obregon was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars.

Information on Staff Sergeant Adams and text of citation were obtained from official records made available by the United States Department of Defense.