In February 1969, Marine Private First Class Oscar Austin risked his life three times to save a wounded brother in arms. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor. In later years, his name was given to a gathering hall at the enlisted club at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia; and to a guided missile destroyer.
Saving a Wounded Marine
On February 23, 1969 Pfc. Oscar Austin was serving Company E, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, as the ammunition man. Company E encountered fierce combat west of Da Nang.
He jumped between the grenade and the other Marine, taking the brunt of the explosion in order to spare him injury.
They were attacked by an overwhelming force from the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), using grenades, satchel charges, and rifle fire. Pfc. Austin saw that a fellow Marine had slumped over, wounded, and was in a position that left him exposed to enemy fire. Without hesitation, he left his foxhole and ran across the exposed field of fire to drag his friend to a safe position.
Austin saw a grenade land close to his wounded comrade. He jumped in front of the grenade, between it and the other Marine, taking the brunt of the explosion in order to spare him injury. Badly injured, he still turned to help his friend. He saw an enemy soldier aiming at the unconscious Marine, and again interposed his body in front of him to spare him the rifle shot. In doing so, Oscar Austin was killed.
USS Oscar Austin
In March of 2016, the Navy News service covered a tribute to Pfc. Oscar Austin, and told the story of his courageous sacrifice. Sailors from the guided missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) laid a wreath at his grave in Phoenix, Arizona, and participated in a ceremony to honor the namesake of their vessel.
“Today we continue to carry on his legacy by living up to our motto ‘honor and sacrifice’ by giving back to this nation,” said Oscar Austin’s Command Master Chief Jorge Soto. “It’s an honor to represent the crew of the USS Oscar Austin and we really thank everyone who came out to thank Oscar Austin for his accomplishments and sacrifice.”
“What a fitting day it is to celebrate and commemorate and lay this wreath in honor of Oscar P. Austin,” said the Rev. Warren H. Stewart, senior pastor at First Baptist Church. “Jesus Christ once said that ‘a greater love does not exist than when a man lay down his life for his friends’ and Oscar Austin is one who did just that.”
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.
