Eugene A Obregon
Eugene was born on the 12th of November, 1930, in Los Angeles, California, where he would grow up and go to school. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps on the 7th of June, 1948, and attended recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. He served as a fireman at the Marine Corps Supply Depot in Barstow, California, and when the Korean War began, Eugene was transferred to the 1st Marine Provisional Brigade and he deployed to Korea as a machine gun ammunition carrier on the 14th of July, 1950. It was his actions almost two months into his deployment that would earn him the Medal of Honor posthumously. The citation reads:
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 September 26, 1950. 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 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, Private First Class Obregon enabled his fellow Marines to rescue the wounded man and aided essentially in repelling the attack, thereby sustaining the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Eugene died just a few months before his 20th birthday and his parents received his Medal of Honor from the Secretary of the Navy on the 30th of August, 1951. Eugene Arnold Obregon is buried in the Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
