There are stories often left out of popular history, not because they don’t warrant attention but because someone in battle gave so much so soon that very little is honestly known. Such is the case of Private First Class, Oscar P. Austin. Within one year of joining the United States Marine Corps, this Marine gave his life to save his fellow warrior and earned through conspicuous gallantry the Medal of Honor. Less than 12 months or the time it takes a child to go from 2nd grade to 3rd, this Marine entered an elite club of warriors that would command the respect of all those who have taken up arms since the first stone of battle was thrown. In 1969 Vietnam, PFC Oscar Austin threw himself on top of a wounded Marine in order to absorb a grenade blast and then when certain death looked them both in the eye, PFC Austin undertook an action that could only be described as “take me first” gallantry. An Inconspicuous Life for Conspicuous Gallantry Oscar Palmer Austin was born on January 15th, 1948 in the small Texas town of Nacogdoches. His family eventually moved to Arizona where he would graduate from Phoenix Union High School. In April of 1968, he joined the United States Marine Corps and completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. After infantry training at Camp Pendleton, he was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion 7th Marines which meant an imminent trip to Vietnam. The
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