George H . O ' Brien , Jr . George Herman O ' Brien , Jr . ( September 10 , 1926 – March 11 , 2005 ) was a United States Marine Corps officer who received the Medal of Honor , the United States ' s highest military decoration , for his actions during the Korean War . Biography . O ' Brien was born on September 10 , 1926 , in Fort Worth , Texas . He graduated from Big Spring High School in Big Spring , Texas , in 1944 . From December 1944 until May 1946 , he was a seaman in the United States Merchant Marine . He then entered Texas Technological College ( now Texas Tech University ) where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in geology in May 1950 . While in college , he enlisted as a private in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in July 1949 . Ordered to active duty on November 27 , 1951 , he entered the Officer Candidate School at Quantico , Virginia . He completed that course in February 1952 , and entered the Basic Course the following month , graduating in August 1952 . After further training at Camp Pendleton , California , he embarked for Korea in September 1952 , where he joined the 1st Marine Division . By October 27 , 1952 , he was serving as a second lieutenant with Company H of the 3rd Battalion 7th Marines . On that day , he spearheaded the capture of an enemy - held hill while wounded by enemy fire . For this action , he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Dwight D . Eisenhower during a White House ceremony on October 27 , 1953 , exactly one year to the day after the action for which he was cited . He was promoted to major in the Reserve in 1963 . After his military service , O ' Brien returned to west Texas and raised a family . He was an active volunteer at the Big Spring Veterans Administration medical center . On March 11 , 2005 , O ' Brien died from complications associated with emphysema and pneumonia in Midland , Texas . He was buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin , Texas . Honors . In addition to the Medal of Honor , he held the Purple Heart with Gold Star in lieu of a second award , the Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars , and the United Nations Service Medal . On April 14 , 2005 , the Texas State House unanimously passed a House Resolution honoring George H . O ' Brien , Jr . In turn , on April 15 , 2005 , the Texas State Senate adopted Senate Resolution Number 399 , " In Memory of George Herman O ' Brien , Jr . " A scholarship at Texas Tech University which provides funding for U . S . Marines and their children was named in his honor . At the VA medical center where O ' Brien volunteered , a statue of his likeness was unveiled in November 2008 . Medal of Honor citation . The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to SECOND LIEUTENANT GEORGE H . O ' BRIEN , JR . UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE 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 as a Rifle Platoon Commander of Company H , Third Battalion , Seventh Marines , First Marine Division ( Reinforced ) , in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 27 October 1952 . With his platoon subjected to an intense mortar and artillery bombardment while preparing to assault a vitally important hill position on the main line of resistance which had been overrun by a numerically superior enemy force on the preceding night , Second Lieutenant O ' Brien leaped from his trench when the attack signal was given and , shouting for his men to follow raced across an exposed saddle and up the enemy - held hill through a virtual hail of deadly small - arms , artillery and weapon fire . Although shot through the arm and thrown to the ground by hostile automatic - weapons fire as he neared the well - entrenched enemy position , he bravely regained his feet , waved his men onward and continued to spearhead the assault , pausing only long enough to go to the aid of a wounded Marine . Encountering the enemy at close range , he proceeded to hurl hand grenade s into the bunker s and , utilizing his carbine to best advantage in savage hand - to - hand combat , succeeded in killing at least three of the enemy . Struck down by the concussion of grenades on three occasions during the subsequent action , he steadfastly refused to be evacuated for medical treatment and continued to lead his platoon in the assault for a period of nearly four hours , repeatedly encouraging his men and maintaining superb direction of the unit . With the attack halted , he set up a defense with his remaining forces to prepare for a counterattack , personally checking each position , attending to the wounded and expediting their evacuation . When a relief of the position was effected by another unit , he remained to cover the withdrawal and to assure that no wounded were left behind . By his exceptionally daring and forceful leadership in the face of overwhelming odds , Second Lieutenant O ' Brien served as a constant source of inspiration to all who observed him and was greatly instrumental in the recapture of a strategic position on the main line of resistance . His indomitable determination and valiant fighting spirit reflect the highest credit upon himself and enhance the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service . / S / DWIGHT D . EISENHOWER