An American Hero

            For Denis Hamill's article on Robert O'Malley, Click here
   

            The following is Mr. O'Malley's citation as posted by the U.S. Army's Center for Military History

        
O'MALLEY, ROBERT E.

Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Cpl.), U .S. Marine Corps, Company   1, 3d Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division (Rein). Place
   and date: Near An Cu'ong 2, South Vietnam, 18 August 1965. Entered   service at: New York, N.Y. Born: 
3 June 1943, New York, N.Y. Citation:   For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the   communist (Viet Cong) forces at the
 risk of his life above and beyond   the call of duty. While leading his squad in the assault against a   strongly entrenched enemy force, his unit 
came under intense small-arms   fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Sgt. O'Malley   raced across an open rice paddy to 
a trench line where the enemy forces   were located. Jumping into the trench, he attacked the Viet Cong with   his rifle and grenades, 
and singly killed 8 of the enemy. He then led   his squad to the assistance of an adjacent marine unit which was   suffering heavy casualties.
 Continuing to press forward, he reloaded his   weapon and fired with telling effect into the enemy emplacement. He   personally assisted in 
the evacuation of several wounded marines, and   again regrouping the remnants of his squad, he returned to the point of   
the heaviest fighting. Ordered to an evacuation point by an officer,   Sgt. O'Malley gathered his besieged and badly wounded squad, and boldly 
  led them under fire to a helicopter for withdrawal. Although 3 times   wounded in this encounter, and facing imminent death from a fanatic and  
 determined enemy, he steadfastly refused evacuation and continued to   cover his squad's boarding of the helicopters while, from an
 exposed   position, he delivered fire against the enemy until his wounded men were   evacuated. Only then,
 with his last mission accomplished, did he permit   himself to be removed from the battlefield. By his valor,
 leadership,   and courageous efforts in behalf of his comrades, he served as an   inspiration to all who observed him, and 
reflected the highest credit   upon the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.

      

        

        

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