b. 14/02/1943 Niagara Falls, New York. d. 30/03/1967 Quang Tri, Vietnam.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 30/03/1967 Quang Tri, Vietnam.
John P Bobo MOH
John Paul Bobo was born on February 14, 1943 in Niagara Falls, New York. He attended Bishop Duffy High School where he is today distinguished as an honored alum. He graduated from Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York, in 1965.
Bobo enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve on May 28, 1965 in Buffalo while attending Niagara University. He received a B.A. Degree in History in June 1965, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve on December 17, 1965. He completed the Officer Candidate Course, The Basic School, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, in May 1966. In June 1966 he was sent to South Vietnam, and the following year, during Operation Prairie, he was mortally wounded as a result of an enemy ambush of his company. He was also awarded the Purple Heart (with one gold star).
He posthumously received the award (presented to his family) from Secretary of the Navy Paul R. Ignatuis at the Marine Barracks, Washington DC, on August 27, 1968, for his actions as a 2nd lieutenant with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, near Con Thien, in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam.
MOH CITATION:
Bobo was ordered to the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) in June 1966 and was assigned duty as the Second Platoon commander, Company I, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. While serving in Company I, 9th Marines, during Operation Prairie III, he was mortally wounded when a large number of NVA soldiers attacked his rifle company’s night ambush position (at Hill 70, west of Con Thien) in Quang Tri Province near the Demilitarized Zone in South Vietnam on March 30, 1967. Knowing his wounds would prevent him from making it to safety, Bobo ordered his men to retreat while he stayed behind alone to fight the North Vietnamese aggressors. His actions saved the lives of all of his men. For this, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
BURIAL LOCATION: GATE OF HEAVEN CEMETERY, LEWISTON, NEW YORK.
ST. MARK SECTION, LOT 82
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
