Oscar Palmer Austin | |
|---|---|
 Oscar P. Austin, Medal of Honor recipient | |
| Born | January 15, 1948 Nacogdoches, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | February 23, 1969 (aged 21) Da Nang Province, Republic of Vietnam |
| Place of burial | Greenwood/Memory Lawn Mortuary & Cemetery, Phoenix, Arizona |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1968–1969 |
| Rank |  Private First Class |
| Unit | Company E, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division |
| Battles / wars | Vietnam War (DOW) |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
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. His 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. Austin was mortally wounded during this action and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1970.