John Paul Bobo (February 14, 1943 – March 30, 1967) was a United States Marine Corps second lieutenant who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Vietnam War on March 30, 1967.

Biography

John Paul Bobo was born on February 14, 1943, in Niagara Falls, New York. He attended Bishop Duffy High School where he is today distinguished as an honored alum. Bobo graduated from Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York, in 1965.

US Marine Corps

Bobo enlisted in the [U.S. Marine Corps Reserve] on May 28, 1965, in Buffalo while attending Niagara University. He received a B.A. Degree in History in June 1965, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve on December 17, 1965. Bobo completed the Officer Candidate Course, The Basic School, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, in May 1966. Bobo was ordered to the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) in June 1966 and was assigned duty as the Second Platoon commander, Company I, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. While serving in Company I, 9th Marines, during Operation Prairie III, he was mortally wounded when a large number of NVA soldiers attacked his rifle company's night ambush position (at Hill 70, west of Con Thien) in Quang Tri Province near the Demilitarized Zone in South Vietnam on March 30, 1967. Knowing his wounds would prevent him from making it to safety, Bobo ordered his men to retreat while he stayed behind alone to fight the North Vietnamese attackers. His actions saved the lives of all of his men. For this, Bobo was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Bobo is buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Lewiston, New York.

Military decorations and awards

2nd Lieutenant Bobo's military awards include:

Personal namings and honors

Lt. Bobo namings and honors include:

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to SECOND LIEUTENANT JOHN P. BOBO UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION: /S/LYNDON B. JOHNSON