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Marine Corps Pfc. Oscar Austin, Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient.
Episode 2735 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Marine Corps Pfc. Oscar Austin and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. The featured story comes from The U.S. Department of Defense website and was titled: Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Corps Pfc. Oscar Austin. It was submitted by Katie Lange, a writer for DOD News.
Lange, in her story, reported that sacrificing yourself for another is one of the most valiant things a person could do. Its how 21-year-old Marine Corps Pfc. Oscar Austin earned his Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War.
Lange added this about Oscar Austin; he was born in Nacogdoches, Texas. His family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, when he was very young. He grew up there and graduated high school in 1967 before enlisting in the Marine Corps on April 22, 1968. A few months later, in October 1968, the newly promoted private first class was sent to Vietnam, where he served as an assistant machine gunner.
By early 1969, the North Vietnamese kicked off another offensive similar to the massive Tet Offensive of 1968. By February, they had launched simultaneous attacks on more than 100 towns, cities and villages across South Vietnam. On Feb. 23, 1969, Austin was at a Marine base just west of Danang when that enemy offensive came to them.
Early that morning, Austin and his friend, 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Douglas Payne, were on duty at an observation post when the enemy attacked, spraying the Marines with gunfire, grenades and explosives.
Austin found himself protected from the assault in a dugout, but he quickly noticed that Payne was lying injured several dozen yards away. Without considering his own safety, Austin ran from his hole across the open terrain to help drag Payne back to safety.
Listen to episode 2735 and discover more about Marine Corps Pfc. Oscar Austin and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.
