![]() |
Sgt. Eduardo C. Gomez |
Sgt. Eduardo C. Gomez will receive the Medal of Honor
posthumously for his courageous actions while serving with Company I,
8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during combat operations
against an armed enemy in Tabu-dong, Korea on September 3, 1950.
Born in Los Angeles, Sgt. Eduardo Gomez on Sept. 3, 1950,
distinguished himself near Tabu-dong, Korea, by climbing aboard a
Russian T-34 tank, opening a hatch and dropping in a grenade.
He
was wounded on his left side and picked up a damaged .30 caliber
machine-gun, which he used to spray the advancing enemy while his group
retreated. The weapon overheated, burning his hands. He refused
treatment until his unit established a new defensive position.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Gomez received the Distinguished
Service Cross (this award will be upgraded to the Medal of Honor on Mar. 18), Bronze Star Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster and “V” Device,
Purple Heart with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, European-African-Middle
Eastern Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star, World War II
Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, National
Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Honorable Service Lapel
Button-WWII, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and Gold
Bravery Medal of Greece Unit Citation.