Medal of Honor: Baldomero Lopez – Korean War, September 15, 1950

Baldomero Lopez
First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps
Conflict: Korean War
Unit: Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Date of Action: September 15, 1950
Location: Red Beach, Inchon, Korea

Summary of Action:
The moment captured in the famous photograph freezes Baldomero Lopez in his final breath — rifle in hand, climbing the seawall at Inchon. But the real story of what followed is etched not in film, but in fire and blood.

On September 15, 1950, as the second wave of Marines hit Red Beach during the audacious amphibious landing at Inchon, First Lieutenant Lopez led 3rd Platoon through chaos incarnate — crashing surf, enemy gunfire, and a maze of enemy fortifications. Despite blistering resistance, he urged his men forward with steady purpose, scaling the seawall under direct fire and rallying his platoon to breach the North Korean defenses.

As they neared an enemy pillbox raining automatic fire down on the beachhead, Lopez prepared to silence it with a grenade. But as he raised his arm, he was struck in the shoulder and chest. The grenade slipped from his grasp. With only seconds before detonation — and knowing his men were beside him — Lopez dragged his broken body forward, scooped the grenade beneath him, and used the last strength he had to shield his Marines from the blast.

The explosion ended his life but saved countless others. In that instant, Baldomero Lopez didn’t just fight for his country — he gave everything for his brothers-in-arms.

Medal of Honor 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."