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Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Lt. Baldomero Lopez, U.S. Marine Corps
Marine First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez earned the Medal of Honor in Korea for sacrificing his life to protect his men.
Lieutenant Lopez, 25, was posthumously awarded the Nation's top military decoration for smothering a hand grenade with his own body during the Inchon landing on 15 September 1950.
Secretary of the Navy Kimball presented the medal to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Baldomero J. Lopez of Tampa, Florida, during ceremonies in Washington, D.C., on 30 August 1951, at 11:00 A.M.
Lieutenant Lopez was born 23 August 1925, at Tampa, Florida, and went to high school in that city, where he starred as a basketball player. On 8 July 1943, he enlisted in the United States Navy, and served until 11 June 1944.
After his discharged Lieutenant Lopez was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, and on graduating 6 June 1947, was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps.
He took basic officer instructions at Quantico, Virginia, after which he became a platoon commander in the Platoon Leaders Class Training Regiment.
In 1948, Lieutenant Lopez went to China, where he served as a mortar section commander and later as a rifle platoon commander at Tsingtao and Shanghai. On his return from China he was assigned to Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California.
He was serving there when, shortly after the outbreak of the Korean war, he volunteered for duty as an infantry officer in Korea.
News of his heroic death spread quickly among fellow Marines on the battlefronts. On 25 September 1950, a Scripps-Howard war correspondent, Jerry Thorp, said in a news story on Lieutenant Lopez's deed that he "died with the courage that makes men great."
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Lieutenant Lopez's decorations include the Purple Heart Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze star, China Service Medal, and Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars.
Lieutenant Lopezs brother, Jose P. Lopez, 22, accompanied his parents to the presentation ceremonies in Washington, D.C.
Marine 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez leads his men over the Inchon seawall, September 15, 1950
CITATION:
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: During Inchon invasion in Korea, 15 September 1950. Entered service at: Tampa, Fla. Born: 23 August 1925, Tampa, Fla. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a marine platoon commander of Company A, in action against enemy aggressor forces. With his platoon 1st Lt. Lopez was engaged in the reduction of immediate enemy beach defenses after landing with the assault waves. Exposing himself to hostile fire, he moved forward alongside a bunker and prepared to throw a hand grenade into the next pillbox whose fire was pinning down that sector of the beach. Taken under fire by an enemy automatic weapon and hit in the right shoulder and chest as he lifted his arm to throw, he fell backward and dropped the deadly missile. After a moment, he turned and dragged his body forward in an effort to retrieve the grenade and throw it. In critical condition from pain and loss of blood, and unable to grasp the hand grenade firmly enough to hurl it, he chose to sacrifice himself rather than endanger the lives of his men and, with a sweeping motion of his wounded right arm, cradled the grenade under him and absorbed the full impact of the explosion. His exceptional courage, fortitude, and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon 1st Lt. Lopez and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Courtesy of Find A Grave
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