Eugene A. Obregon
| Eugene Arnold Obregon | |
|---|---|
 
Eugene A. Obregon, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient
|
|
| Born |
November 12, 1930 Los Angeles, California |
| Died | September 26, 1950 (aged 19) Killed in action in Seoul, Korea |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1948-1950 |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Unit | 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines |
| Battles/wars |
Korean War *Battle of Inchon *Second Battle of Seoul |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Eugene Arnold Obregon (November 12, 1930 – September 26, 1950) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the United States' highest military decoration for valor — the Medal of Honor — for sacrificing his life to save that of a wounded comrade during the Second Battle of Seoul. On September 26, 1950, Private First Class Obregon was fatally wounded by enemy machine gun fire while using his body to shield a wounded fellow Marine.
Eugene Arnold Obregon, who was of Mexican American descent, was born on November 12, 1930 in Los Angeles, California. He attended elementary school and Theodore Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps on June 7, 1948, at the age of 17.
Following recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, he was assigned to the Marine Corps Supply Depot in Barstow, California, where he served as a fireman until the outbreak of the Korean War. He was transferred to the 1st Marine Provisional Brigade and served as a machine gun ammunition carrier. His unit departed the United States on July 14, 1950 and arrived at Pusan, Korea on August 3, 1950.
He was in action by August 8, 1950, along the Naktong River, and participated in the Inchon landing. Then, on September 26, 1950, during the assault on the city of Seoul he was killed in action while using his body to shield a wounded fellow Marine. For this action, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
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