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Clair-Mel City in Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
 

First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez

Marine Corps

— Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park —

 
 
First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, March 7, 2022
1. First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez Marker
Inscription.
The President of the United States
in the name of Congress takes pride in
presenting the Medal of Honor posthumously to
First Lieutenant
Baldomero Lopez
Marine Corps

for service set forth in the following

Citation:
For The President of the United States of America The name of Congress takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez (MCSN-HQ-4934) United States Marine Corps for conspicuous gallantry an intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 15 September 1950 as a Marine platoon commander of Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces during the landing at Inchon, Korea. With his platoon First Lieutenant Lopez was engaged in the reduction of immediate enemy beach defenses after landing with the assault waves. Exposing himself to hostile fire, He moved forward alongside a bunker and prepared to throw a hand grenade into the next pillbox whose fire was pinning down that sector of The beach. Taken under fire by an enemy automatic weapon and
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hit in the right shoulder and chest as he lifted his arm to throw he fell backward and dropped the deadly missile. After a moment, he turned and dragged his body forward in an effort to retrieve the grenade and throw it. In critical condition from pain and loss of blood, and unable to grasp the hand grenade firmly enough to hurl it. he chose to sacrifice himself rather than endanger the lives of his men and with a sweeping motion of his wounded right arm, cradled the grenade under him and absorbed the full impact of the explosion. His exceptional courage, fortitude, and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon First Lt. Lopez and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
 
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: HeroesPatriots & PatriotismWar, Korean. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list.
 
Location. 27° 58.587′ N, 82° 21.783′ W. Memorial is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. It is in Clair-Mel City. It can be reached from N US Highway 301 (U.S. 301) 0.2 miles south of
First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, March 7, 2022
2. First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez Marker
E Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Marker located within Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 3602 N US Highway 301, Tampa FL 33619, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is on Florida’s Tampa Bay. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Medal of Honor (here, next to this marker); Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith (here, next to this marker); Bataan Death March Bridge (a few steps from this marker); US Army Howitzer 75mm (within shouting distance of this marker); Navy Seabees (within shouting distance of this marker); US Army Stuart M3A1 Light Tank (within shouting distance of this marker);
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Hillsborough County World War I Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Douglas MacArthur (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.
 
Also see . . .  Baldomero Lopez. (Submitted on May 8, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 635 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on May 8, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
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Aug. 19, 2026