The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*BOBO, JOHN P.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant,
U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 3d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place
and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 30 March 1967. Entered service
at: Buffalo, N.Y. Born: 14 February 1943, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the
call of duty. Company 1 was establishing night ambush sites when the command group was
attacked by a reinforced North Vietnamese company supported by heavy automatic weapons and
mortar fire. 2d Lt. Bobo immediately organized a hasty defense and moved from position to
position encouraging the outnumbered marines despite the murderous enemy fire. Recovering
a rocket launcher from among the friendly casualties, he organized a new launcher team and
directed its fire into the enemy machinegun positions. When an exploding enemy mortar
round severed 2d Lt. Bobo's right leg below the knee, he refused to be evacuated and
insisted upon being placed in a firing position to cover the movement of the command group
to a better location. With a web belt around his leg serving as a tourniquet and with his
leg jammed into the dirt to curtain the bleeding, he remained in this position and
delivered devastating fire into the ranks of the enemy attempting to overrun the marines.
2d Lt. Bobo was mortally wounded while firing his weapon into the main point of the enemy
attack but his valiant spirit inspired his men to heroic efforts, and his tenacious stand
enabled the command group to gain a protective position where it repulsed the enemy
onslaught. 2d Lt. Bobo's superb leadership, dauntless courage, and bold initiative
reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps
and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
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