A Marine's Story: Private First Class Oscar Palmer Austin

Private First Class Oscar Palmer Austin was born on January 15, 1949, in Nacogdoches, Texas.   His family relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, while he was young, and he attended Phoenix Union High School.   Private First Class Oscar Austin worked delivering newspapers at a laundromat before enlistment.

On April 22, 1968, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps and deployed to Vietnam with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines for the Vietnam War.

On February 23, 1968, Private First Class Oscar Austin earned a Congressional Medal of Honor when his post, located near De Nang,  came under attack by a large enemy force.  He put himself between a wounded member of his unit and a grenade and then, moments later, shielded the same Marine from enemy fire, suffering fatal wounds.

Private First Class Oscar Austin rests at the Greenwood Memory Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona.

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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to the travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

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