Oscar P. Austin
US Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient
Died when: 21 years 39 days (253 months)Star Sign: Capricorn
Oscar Palmer Austin (January 15, 1948 – February 23, 1969) was a United States Marine who posthumously received his nation's highest military honor — the Medal of Honor — for heroism and sacrifice of his own life in Vietnam in February 1969.
On February 12, 1969, Austin's observation post near Da Nang was attacked by a large North Vietnamese force.Austin's fellow Marine was wounded, and Austin went over to help him.
Austin jumped onto an enemy grenade landing near the wounded man and suffered severe injuries, and then protected his fellow Marine by jumping between him and a shooting Vietnamese soldier.
He was mortally wounded during this action, and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1970.
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