Medal of Honor: John P. Bobo – Vietnam War – March 30, 1967

Name: John P. Bobo
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
War: Vietnam War
Unit: 3d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division (Reinforced), FMF
Date of Action: March 30, 1967
Location: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On 30 March 1967, Company I was establishing night ambush positions in Quang Tri Province when the command group came under sudden attack by a reinforced North Vietnamese company supported by heavy automatic weapons and mortar fire.

Outnumbered and under intense pressure, the Marines faced a determined assault.

Second Lieutenant John P. Bobo reacted immediately.

He organized a hasty defense and moved from position to position through murderous enemy fire, encouraging his Marines and directing their resistance.

Spotting a rocket launcher among friendly casualties, Bobo recovered the weapon, assembled a new launcher team, and directed fire into enemy machine-gun positions.

During the battle, an exploding enemy mortar round severed his right leg below the knee.

Despite the catastrophic wound, he refused evacuation.

Instead, he demanded to be placed in a firing position so he could cover the withdrawal of the command group to stronger ground.

Using a web belt as a tourniquet, he jammed the remains of his leg into the dirt to slow the bleeding.

From that position, Bobo continued firing into enemy ranks as they attempted to overrun the Marines.

Though mortally wounded while engaging the main point of the assault, he continued inspiring his men by his example.

His tenacious stand bought the command group time to reach a more defensible position, where they repelled the enemy attack.

John P. Bobo’s courage, leadership, and refusal to yield upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and Naval Service.

Medal of Honor Citation

BOBO, JOHN P.

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.