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| Robert Emmet O'Malley | |
|---|---|
| Name | Robert Emmet O'Malley |
| Birth date | 1943 |
| Birth place | Queens, New York |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Serviceyears | 1962–1970 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Battles | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, Navy Unit Commendation |
Robert Emmet O'Malley is a retired United States Marine Corps noncommissioned officer notable for actions during the Vietnam War that earned him the Medal of Honor. A native of Queens, New York, he served with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines and participated in operations in I Corps and Quang Tri Province before being wounded and returning to civilian life where he engaged with veterans' organizations and public advocacy.
O'Malley was born in Queens, New York and raised amid communities connected to New York City, Bronx neighborhoods, and the broader Long Island region, attending local schools influenced by civic institutions such as St. John's University and nearby City College of New York programs for veterans. His upbringing intersected with neighborhoods near LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and transit corridors like the Long Island Rail Road that linked him to regional recruitment centers and Parris Island and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island-adjacent training pipelines. Early influences included family connections to service members who had served during the Korean War and visits to memorials such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and commemorations at Times Square veteran events.
O'Malley enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during the era marked by policy decisions in the Lyndon B. Johnson administration and deployments ordered under authorities tied to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. After recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, he advanced through infantry schools associated with the School of Infantry (United States Marines) and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines within the 1st Marine Division (United States). In theater, he operated in I Corps near Quang Tri Province and participated in engagements during operations related to Operation Prairie, Operation Hastings, and patrols around the DMZ against forces of the People's Army of Vietnam and Army of the Republic of Vietnam. During a combat engagement he exposed himself to hostile fire to carry wounded Marines to evacuation helicopters from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (HMM-262) landing zones coordinated with Khe Sanh Combat Base medical evacuation procedures, actions that resulted in multiple wounds and recognition from commanders in the III Marine Amphibious Force chain of command.
For conspicuous gallantry during a specific action in Quang Tri Province he was awarded the Medal of Honor by Richard Nixon administration representatives in ceremonies reflecting Department of Defense protocols and Marine Corps traditions. His citation and decorations include the Purple Heart, unit commendations such as the Navy Unit Commendation, and campaign medals tied to the Vietnam Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. The award ceremony connected him to other recipients such as Daniel J. Daly-era exemplars and contemporary honorees whose recognition occurred at venues like the White House and ceremonies hosted by the United States Marine Corps and veteran support groups including Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
Following his separation from active duty he engaged with veteran-focused organizations including the Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, and regional chapters of the Marine Corps League while also participating in outreach at institutions such as St. John's University and ceremonies at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He worked in civilian sectors that interfaced with federal programs managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and state agencies in New York and collaborated with nonprofit groups like Wounded Warrior Project and Fisher House Foundation on issues concerning wounded veterans, medical evacuation protocols exemplified by medevac standards, and advocacy tied to benefits overseen by the United States Congress and committees such as the United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
His personal life includes ties to communities in Queens, New York, participation in commemorations at sites such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the National Mall, and appearances on panels alongside figures from the United States Marine Corps leadership and other decorated veterans like Chesty Puller in historical retrospectives. Ongoing legacy work places him in archival collections and oral histories associated with institutions such as the National Archives and Records Administration, the Smithsonian Institution, and university oral history programs, influencing scholarship at centers for Vietnam War studies and serving as a subject in documentary projects and exhibits curated by the Museum of the City of New York and military history outlets. His story is commemorated in regional memorials and veteran networks that continue to engage with policymakers in Albany, New York and Washington, D.C..
Category:Recipients of the Medal of Honor Category:United States Marines Category:Vietnam War veterans