b. 06/10/1930 Ewa, Hawaii. d. 15/02/1951 Korea.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 15/02/1951 Chipyong-ni, Korea.
Bruno R A Orig MOH
Bruno Orig was born in October 1930, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was one of eight children raised in Honolulu by his mother Gregoria, father Hilario Orig (who died at age 41) and stepfather Leon Omboy. All three of his parents came to Hawaii from the Philippines.
Bruno’s father, stepfather, older brother and younger brother all served in the U.S. Army in WWI, WWII and Vietnam. He was 11 years old, living in Honolulu, when Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941, spurring the United States to enter WWII.
Soon after graduating from Farrington High School in 1949, Bruno enlisted in the U.S. Army and was trained as a light weapons infantryman. Pvt. Orig was assigned to Company G, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, in South Korea. After only three months in country, Orig distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy forces in the vicinity of Chipyong-ni on Feb. 15, 1951.
During fierce fighting, the 20-year-old Orig removed his fellow wounded Soldiers to a place of safety and noticed that all except one man of a machine-gun crew had been wounded. Without hesitation, he volunteered to man the weapon. Remaining in this position, Orig placed such effective fire on the enemy that a withdrawing friendly platoon was able to move back without a single casualty. He continued to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy until the company positions were overrun. Later that day, when the lost ground was recaptured, Orig was found dead beside his weapon and the area in front of his gun was littered with enemy dead.
After Bruno died in combat, his younger brother Francis Omboy ended up serving in the Army and fought in Vietnam. Bruno belonged to a family that was rich in military service, family values, and selfless sacrifice. His sister Loretta, at 91 years old, is the only living member of the eight Orig/Omboy children, and their family military service has continued. His sister Loretta received the upgraded Medal of Honor (previously a Distinguished Service Cross) on January 3, 2025 at The White House from President Joseph R. Biden.
MOH CITATION:
Pvt. Bruno R. Orig distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, in the vicinity of Chipyong-ni, Korea, on Feb. 15, 1951.
While returning from a wire-laying mission, Orig saw several of his comrades wounded during a fierce enemy attack. With complete disregard for his own safety, Orig went to them and remained in an exposed position to administer first aid. With the assistance of several comrades from the company command post, Orig began removing the wounded to a place of safety.
While returning from one of these trips, Orig noticed that all except one man of a machine-gun crew had been wounded. Without hesitation, he volunteered to man the weapon. Remaining in this position, Orig placed effective fire on the enemy, allowing a friendly platoon to withdraw without a single casualty. Orig continued to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy until the company positions were overrun.
Later that day, when the lost ground was recaptured, Orig was found dead beside his weapon, and the area in front of his gun was littered with several dead enemy soldiers.
BURIAL LOCATION: NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC, HONOLULU, HAWAII.
SECTION P, SITE 183.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
