PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
OSCAR P. AUSTIN, USMC (DECEASED)

 

Medal of Honor Citation

Oscar P. Austin, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in February 1969, was born 15 January 1948, in Nacogdoches, Texas. He attended Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Phoenix, Arizona, and Phoenix Union High School.

Inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps at Phoenix, 22 April 1968, he completed recruit training with the 3d Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, in July 1968; individual combat training with Company T, 3d Battalion, 2d Infantry Training Regiment, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California, in August 1968; and basic infantry training with Weapons Company, Basic Infantry Training Battalion, 2d Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Pendleton, in September.

Promoted to private first class, 1 October 1968, he was transferred later that month to the Republic of Vietnam where he served as ammunitions man with Company E, 2d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. While participating in combat 6 ½ miles west of Da Nang on 23 February 1969, he was killed in action.

A complete list of his medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. 

Vietnam War 1965-1973 Medal of Honor