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in a position dangerously exposed to hostile fire, Austin unhesitatingly left the relative security of his fighting hole and, with complete disregard for his own safety, raced across the fire-swept terrain to drag the Marine to safety. As he neared his companion, he observed an enemy grenade land nearby. Leaping between the grenade and the injured Marine, Austin took the full force of the explosion himself. Although he was badly injured, Austin turned to help his fallen companion and saw a North
Vietnamese soldier aiming a weapon at the unconscious man. With full knowledge of the probable consequences, Austin threw himself between the injured Marine and the hostile soldier. In doing so, he was mortally wounded. Austin is buried in Phoenix's
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508:. During the early morning hours of February 23, 1969, Private First Class Austin's observation post was subjected to a fierce ground attack by a large North Vietnamese Army force supported by a heavy volume of hand grenades, satchel charges and small arms fire. Observing that one of his wounded companions had fallen unconscious in a position dangerously exposed to the hostile fire, Private First Class Austin unhesitatingly left the relative security of his fighting hole and, with complete disregard for his own safety, raced across the fire-swept terrain to assist the Marine to a covered location. As he neared the casualty, he observed an enemy
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full knowledge of the probable consequences and thinking only to protect the Marine, Private First Class Austin resolutely threw himself between the casualty and the hostile soldier and, in so doing, was mortally wounded. Private First Class Austin's indomitable courage, inspiring initiative and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the
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force. His fellow Marine was wounded, and Austin went over to help him. Austin jumped onto an enemy grenade landing near the wounded man and suffered severe injuries, and then protected his fellow Marine by jumping between him and a shooting
Vietnamese soldier. Austin was mortally wounded during this
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During the early morning hours on
February 23, 1969, PFC Austin's observation post came under a fierce ground attack by a large North Vietnamese Army force using a heavy volume of hand grenades, satchel charges, and small arms fire. Observing that one of his wounded companions had fallen unconscious
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land nearby and, reacting instantly, leaped between the injured Marine and the lethal object, absorbing the effect of its detonation. As he ignored his painful injuries and turned to examine the wounded man, he saw a North
Vietnamese Army soldier aiming a weapon at his unconscious companion. With
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288:, California, in August 1968; and basic infantry training with Weapons Company, Basic Infantry Training Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Pendleton, in September.
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For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an
Assistant Machine Gunner with Company E,
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Promoted to private first class on
October 1, 1968, Austin was transferred later that month to
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711:"PFC Oscar P. Austin, Medal of Honor, 1969, 2/7/1, Vietnam (Medal of Honor citation)"
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This article is about the U.S. marine. For the
American statistician and writer, see
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608:. USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), United States Navy. February 2, 1999. Archived from
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580:. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p.
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action and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1970.
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United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient (1948–1969)
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United States Marine Corps personnel killed in the
Vietnam War
693:. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from
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takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
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in connection with operations against enemy forces in the
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U.S. Marines in
Vietnam: High Mobility and Standdown 1969
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received his nation's highest military honor — the
256:. He attended Booker T. Washington Elementary School in
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List of Medal of Honor recipients for the
Vietnam War
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On February 12, 1969, Austin's observation post near
228:— for heroism and sacrifice of his own life in
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United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients
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for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
307:on February 23, 1969, Austin was killed in action.
295:where he served as ammunitions man with Company E,
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303:. While participating in combat 6 ½ miles west of
276:in Phoenix, Arizona April 22, 1968, and completed
450:, commissioned in 2000, is named in his honor.
517:. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
313:Greenwood/Memory Lawn Mortuary & Cemetery
216:(January 15, 1948 – February 23, 1969) was a
95:Greenwood/Memory Lawn Mortuary & Cemetery
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778:Vietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor
687:"Private First Class Oscar P. Austin, USMC"
280:with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion at
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44:Oscar P. Austin, Medal of Honor recipient
763:Military personnel from Phoenix, Arizona
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252:Austin was born on January 15, 1948, in
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282:Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
482:PRIVATE FIRST CLASS OSCAR P. AUSTIN
715:Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
677:from websites or documents of the
654:Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
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691:Who's Who in Marine Corps History
550:List of Medal of Honor recipients
322:Grave site of Oscar Palmer Austin
673: This article incorporates
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634:. The Historical Marker Database
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286:Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
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758:People from Nacogdoches, Texas
472:President of the United States
410:National Defense Service Medal
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515:United States Naval Service
453:Austin Hall Enlisted Club,
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719:United States Marine Corps
679:United States Marine Corps
485:UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
459:Marine Corps Base Quantico
331:Austin's medals include:
297:2nd Battalion, 7th Marines
274:United States Marine Corps
159:2nd Battalion, 7th Marines
125:United States Marine Corps
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262:Phoenix Union High School
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448:guided missile destroyer
248:Early life and education
239:was attacked by a large
652:"PFC Oscar P. Austin",
574:Smith, Charles (1988).
466:Medal of Honor citation
675:public domain material
424:Vietnam Campaign Medal
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768:United States Marines
725:on September 21, 1999
502:First Marine Division
415:Vietnam Service Medal
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131:Years of service
218:United States Marine
506:Republic of Vietnam
301:1st Marine Division
214:Oscar Palmer Austin
163:1st Marine Division
148:Private First Class
84:Republic of Vietnam
32:Oscar Palmer Austin
21:Oscar Phelps Austin
612:on October 9, 2007
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272:Austin joined the
254:Nacogdoches, Texas
232:in February 1969.
97:, Phoenix, Arizona
697:on August 6, 2007
606:"Oscar P. Austin"
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327:Awards and honors
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73:February 23, 1969
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542:Biography portal
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523:RICHARD M. NIXON
494:Second Battalion
455:The Basic School
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258:Phoenix, Arizona
241:North Vietnamese
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80:Da Nang Province
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727:. Retrieved
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476:The Congress
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436:Oscar Austin
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403:Purple Heart
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222:posthumously
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206:Purple Heart
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169:Battles/wars
75:(1969-02-23)
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753:1969 deaths
748:1948 births
638:October 20,
616:October 28,
461:, Virginia.
174:Vietnam War
157:Company E,
63:Nacogdoches
742:Categories
701:October 8,
664:References
103:Allegiance
56:1948-01-15
729:March 22,
434:USS
134:1968–1969
528:See also
111:Service/
510:grenade
305:Da Nang
237:Da Nang
230:Vietnam
177: (
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446:class
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268:Career
260:, and
188:Awards
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113:branch
561:Notes
417:w/ 2
731:2006
703:2007
640:2007
618:2007
586:ISBN
470:The
220:who
154:Unit
139:Rank
70:Died
50:Born
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521:/S/
180:DOW
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
