Cpl O’Malley jumped into the trench, attacked the Viet Cong with his rifle and grenades, and singly killed eight of the enemy.
Robert E. O’Malley, who received the Medal of Honor December 6, 1966, for his actions during a firefight near An Cu’ong 2 in South Vietnam. Cpl. O’Malley single-handedly attacked a Viet Cong trench and helped to evacuate wounded Marines. As he led his men to the helicopter extraction point, he was hit in the legs, arm, and chest by mortar fragmentation. Despite his wounds, he refused to be evacuated and instead provided suppressive fire until all of his Marines had boarded a helicopter.
Cpl. O’Malley served with Company I, 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division during the Vietnam War. He is one of 76 living Medal of Honor recipients.
While leading his squad in the assault against a strongly entrenched enemy force on August 18, 1965. Cpl. O’Malley’s unit came under intense small arms fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he raced across an open rice paddy to a trench line where the enemy forces were located. Jumping into the trench, he attacked the Viet Cong with his rifle and grenades, and singly killed eight of the enemy.
Cpl. O’Malley then led his squad to the assistance of an adjacent Marine unit which was suffering heavy casualties. Continuing to press forward, he reloaded his weapon and fired with telling effect into the enemy emplacement. He personally assisted in the evacuation of several wounded Marines, and again regrouping the remnants of his squad, he returned to the point of the heaviest fighting.
Ordered to an evacuation point by an officer, Cpl. O’Malley gathered his besieged and badly wounded squad, and boldly led them under fire to a helicopter for withdrawal. Although three times wounded in this encounter, and facing imminent death from a fanatic and determined enemy, he steadfastly refused evacuation and continued to cover his squad’s boarding of the helicopters while, from an exposed position, he delivered fire against the enemy until his wounded men were evacuated. Only then, with his last mission accomplished, did he permit himself to be removed from the battlefield.
Cpl. O’Malley was the first member of the U.S. Marine Corps to receive the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War.
He was promoted to Sergeant in December 1965 and left the Marine Corps the following year. His boyhood friend, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Thomas P. Noonan, Jr., also was awarded the Medal of Honor – posthumously – for his actions in Vietnam in February 1969.
HELP us preserve the story of Cpl. O’Malley’s courage and sacrifice and SUPPORT the National Medal of Honor Museum!
O’MALLEY, ROBERT E.
Rank: CorporalOrganization: U.S. Marine CorpsCompany: Company I, 3d BattalionDivision: 3d Marine Regiment, 3d Marine DivisionBorn: 3 June 1943, Woodside, NYDeparted: NoEntered Service At: New York, N.Y.G.O. Number:Date of Issue: 12/06/1966Accredited To:Place / Date: Near An Cu’ong 2, South Vietnam, 18 August 1965
MOH Citation
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the communist (Viet Cong) forces at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While leading his squad in the assault against a strongly entrenched enemy force, his unit came under intense small-arms fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Sgt. O’Malley raced across an open rice paddy to a trench line where the enemy forces were located. Jumping into the trench, he attacked the Viet Cong with his rifle and grenades, and singly killed 8 of the enemy. He then led his squad to the assistance of an adjacent marine unit which was suffering heavy casualties. Continuing to press forward, he reloaded his weapon and fired with telling effect into the enemy emplacement. He personally assisted in the evacuation of several wounded marines, and again regrouping the remnants of his squad, he returned to the point of the heaviest fighting. Ordered to an evacuation point by an officer, Sgt. O’Malley gathered his besieged and badly wounded squad, and boldly led them under fire to a helicopter for withdrawal. Although 3 times wounded in this encounter, and facing imminent death from a fanatic and determined enemy, he steadfastly refused evacuation and continued to cover his squad’s boarding of the helicopters while, from an exposed position, he delivered fire against the enemy until his wounded men were evacuated. Only then, with his last mission accomplished, did he permit himself to be removed from the battlefield. By his valor, leadership, and courageous efforts in behalf of his comrades, he served as an inspiration to all who observed him, and reflected the highest credit upon the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.