Eugene A . Obregon Eugene Arnold Obregon ( November 12 , 1930 – September 26 , 1950 ) was a United States Marine who was posthumous ly 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 . Biography . 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 . 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 . Medal of Honor citation . The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to PRIVATE FIRST CLASS EUGENE A . OBREGON UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION : 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 . / S / HARRY S . TRUMAN Foundation . The Eugene A . Obregon Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation is working to erect a monument in downtown Los Angeles honoring Obregon , 40 Latino Medal of Honor recipients , and all Medal of Honor recipients . The group ' s goal is to see the monument dedicated on May 22 , 2014 . 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 .