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Private First Class · U.S. Marine Corps

Eugene Arnold Obregon

Private First Class Eugene Arnold Obregon, Marine Corps, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions on September 26, 1950 in Seoul, Korea during the Korean War.

Private First Class Eugene Arnold Obregon, a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on September 26, 1950 in Seoul, Korea during the Korean War. At the time he was serving with Company G, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein). Obregon was 19 years old.

Obregon was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on August 30, 1951.

Obregon was born on November 12, 1930 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in East Los Angeles, California.

Obregon is one of 153 Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean War and one of 142 credited to California.

Official 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.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Wounds and death in action

What the citation records about his wounds:

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.
  • Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (September 26, 1950).
  • Age at death: 19
  • Resting place: Calvary Cemetery

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Eugene Arnold Obregon received:

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Korean War.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Los Angeles — map
  • Died: Seoul — map
  • Buried: Calvary Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in California →

Timeline

  1. November 12, 1930
    Born in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
  2. September 26, 1950
    Act of valor — Seoul, Korea
    Age 19. Company G, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) Killed in action.
  3. August 30, 1951
    Medal of Honor presented posthumously
  4. Resting place
    Calvary Cemetery
    East Los Angeles, California

Biography

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.

From the Wikipedia article “Eugene A. Obregon”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Same unit

More Korean War recipients from California

Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.