Eugene A. Obregon


Eugene Arnold Obregon 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.

Early years

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.
The Medal of Honor was presented to PFC Obregon's parents by Secretary of the Navy Daniel A. Kimball on August 30, 1951.
The wounded comrade was PFC Bert M. Johnson, 19, of Grand Prairie, Texas. He was hospitalized, recovered, and returned to duty in the United States at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor citation:

Decorations

In addition to the Medal of Honor, PFC Obregon also was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars and the United Nations Service Medal.

Foundation

The is building a complex located in the heart Los Angeles, California's historic birthplace known as "El Puebo." Two of the four Monument parts have already been completed. Across from Olvera St. Marketplace, atop a grassy knoll, stands The Wall of Honor. This 36' long, curved granite wall bears the inscribe names of all of the nearly 3,500 Medal Of Honor recipients awarded throughout American history.
The organization plans to erect a bronze sculpture of Pfc. Eugene A. Obregon USMC in recognition of Latino recipients and young Obregon's sacrifice for his fellow Marines. The group's goal is to promote a message that brotherhood and unity - as they were forged in war - could also be practiced in peace.
Academy Award® winner Edward James Olmos narrates explaining The Monument project and the upcoming bronze sculpture.

Namesakes and honors

A US Navy ship, a school, a Marine Corps barracks, an American Legion post, and three parks have been named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Eugene Obregon.