The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
John Paul Bobo
Rank and organization:
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 3d Battalion, 9th Marines,
3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date: Quang Tri
Province, Republic of Vietnam, 30 March 1967. Entered service at:
Buffalo, N.Y. Born: 14 February 1943, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Citation:
For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the
call of duty. Company I was establishing night ambush sites when the
command group was attacked by a reinforced North Vietnamese company
supported by heavy automatic weapons and mortar fire. 2d Lt. Bobo
immediately organized a hasty defense and moved from position to
position encouraging the outnumbered marines despite the murderous enemy
fire. Recovering a rocket launcher from among the friendly casualties,
he organized a new launcher team and directed its fire into the enemy
machine gun positions. When an exploding enemy mortar round severed 2d
Lt. Bobo's right leg below the knee, he refused to be evacuated and
insisted upon being placed in a firing position to cover the movement of
the command group to a better location. With a web belt around his leg
serving as a tourniquet and with his leg jammed into the dirt to curtain
the bleeding, he remained in this position and delivered devastating
fire into the ranks of the enemy attempting to overrun the marines. 2d
Lt. Bobo was mortally wounded while firing his weapon into the main
point of the enemy attack but his valiant spirit inspired his men to
heroic efforts, and his tenacious stand enabled the command group to
gain a protective position where it repulsed the enemy onslaught. 2d Lt.
Bobo's superb leadership, dauntless courage, and bold initiative
reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of
the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life
for his country.
The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
THOMAS E.
CREEK
Rank and
organization:Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Company I, 3d Battalion, 9th
Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date:
Near Cam Lo, Republic of Vietnam, 13 February. 1969. Entered
service at: Amarillo, Texas. Born: 7 April 1950,
Joplin, Mo.
Citation:
For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the
call of duty while serving as a rifleman with Company I in action
against enemy forces. L/Cpl. Creek's squad was providing security for a
convoy moving to resupply the Vandegrift Command Base ( LZ Stud) when an
enemy command detonated mine destroyed one of the vehicles and halted
the convoy near the Cam Lo Resettlement Village. Almost immediately, the
marines came under a heavy volume of hostile mortar fire followed by
intense small-arms fire from a well-concealed enemy force. As his squad
deployed to engage the enemy, L/Cpl. Creek quickly moved to a fighting
position and aggressively engaged in the fire fight. Observing a
position from which he could more effectively deliver fire against the
hostile forces. he completely disregarded his own safety as he
fearlessly dashed across the fire-swept terrain and was seriously
wounded by enemy fire. At the same time, an enemy grenade was thrown
into the gully where he had fallen, landing between him and several
companions. Fully realizing the inevitable results of his action, L/Cpl.
Creek rolled on the grenade and absorbed the full force of the explosion
with his body, thereby saving the lives of 5 of his fellow marines. As a
result of his heroic action, his men were inspired to such aggressive
action that the enemy was defeated and the convoy was able to continue
its vital mission. L/Cpl. Creek's indomitable courage, inspired the
Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for
his country.
The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
WILSON, ALFRED M.
Rank and organization:Private First Class, U.S.
Marine Corps, Company M, 3d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division.
Place andDate:Quang Tri Province,
Republic of Vietnam, 3 March 1969. Entered service at:
Abilene, Tex. Born: 13 January 1948, Olney, Ill.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifleman with Company M
in action against hostile forces. While returning from a
reconnaissance-in-force mission in the vicinity of Fire Support Base
Cunningham, the 1st Platoon of Company M came under intense automatic
weapons fire and a grenade attack from a well concealed enemy force. As
the center of the column was pinned down, the leading squad moved to
outflank the enemy. Pfc. Wilson, acting as squad leader of the rear
squad, skillfully maneuvered his men to form a base of fire and act as a
blocking force. In the ensuing fire fight, both his machine gunner and
assistant machine gunner were seriously wounded and unable to operate
their weapons. Realizing the urgent need to bring the weapon into
operation again, Pfc. Wilson, followed by another marine and with
complete disregard for his safety, fearlessly dashed across the
fire-swept terrain to recover the weapon. As they reached the
machinegun, an enemy soldier stepped from behind a tree and threw a
grenade toward the two marines. Observing the grenade fall between
himself and the other marine, Pfc. Wilson, fully realizing the
inevitable result of his actions, shouted to his companion and
unhesitating threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full force of
the explosion with his own body. His heroic actions inspired his platoon
members to maximum effort as they aggressively attacked and defeated the
enemy. Pfc. Wilson's indomitable courage, inspiring valor and selfless
devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and
the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
