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First Name: Oscar

Last Name: Austin

Birthplace: Nacogdoches, TX, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Marines (present)



Home of Record: Phoenix, AZ
Middle Name: Palmer



Date of Birth: 15 January 1949

Date of Death: 23 February 1969

Rank: Private First Class

Years Served: 1968-1969
Oscar Palmer Austin

   
Engagements:
•  Vietnam War (1960 - 1973)

Biography:

Oscar Palmer Austin
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
Medal of Honor Recipient
Vietnam War

Private First Class Oscar Palmer Austin (15 January 1949 - 23 February 1969) was a U.S. Marine who was posthumously awarded his nation's highest military award for valor - the Medal of Honor - for heroism and the sacrifice of his own life in Vietnam in February 1969.

Oscar Palmer Austin was born on 15 January 1949, in Nacogdoches, TX. He attended Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Phoenix, AZ, and Phoenix Union High School.

Austin joined the U.S. Marine Corps in Phoenix, on 22 April 1968 and completed recruit training with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, CA, in July 1968. He completed his individual combat training with Company T, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA, in August 1968; and basic infantry training with Weapons Company, Basic Infantry Training Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Pendleton, in September.

Promoted to Private First Class on 1 October 1968, he was transferred later that month to the Republic of Vietnam where he served as ammunitions man with Company E, 2nd Battalion 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. While participating in combat 6 ½ miles west of Da Nang on 23 February 1969, he was involved in the action for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

During the early morning hours on 23 February 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 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.

Medal of Honor

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS OSCAR P. AUSTIN
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

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, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division in connection with operations against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning hours of 23 February 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 grenade 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 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 United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

/S/RICHARD M. NIXON

Private First Class Oscar Palmer Austin's Medal of Honor was presented to his family by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew at the White House on 20 April 1970.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal w/ 2 Service Stars
Vietnam Campaign Medal

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Private First Class Oscar Palmer Austin's name is inscribed on Panel 32W - Line 88.

Honors

• The destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79), the first ship of the highly advanced Flight IIA subclass of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, commissioned in 2000, is named in his honor.
Austin Hall Enlisted Club, at The Basic School, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA, is named in his honor.

Death and Burial

Private First Class Oscar Palmer Austin was killed in action on 23 February 1969. He is buried at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ, in Section 44, Block 42, Lot 2, Space 11.



Honoree ID: 884   Created by: MHOH

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