MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (March 28) -- Family members of Medal of Honor recipient 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez visited The Basic School on March 28, 2013 for a tour of the grounds and a small taste of what Lopez, a Korean War hero, gave his life for.
Mike Lopez, Lopez’s nephew, and his three grandchildren were led on a tour of sights at the school by Capt. Christopher Bumgardner, protocol officer for TBS. Stops included the student’s quarters, classrooms and the Martial Arts Center of Excellence.
The Lopezes also visited the site of the future Lopez Mess Hall, currently under construction, which is to be dedicated in his honor later this year.
Lopez’s Medal of Honor citation details his actions as he was wounded by automatic weapon fire while raising his arm to throw a grenade into an enemy pillbox at Inchon, Korea on Sept. 15, 1950. Upon taking fire, Lopez 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.
One of Lopez’s final moments - leading his men over the seawall and exposing himself to fire - is preserved by an iconic photo as well as depicted in a brass award presented to the honor graduate of each company at TBS.
“I can see why he loved the Corps like he did,” said Mike during his tour. “The people I’ve met today alone have been exceptional individuals and I see a part of him in each of them.”
Mike’s grandchildren were treated to a demonstration at the MACE, where they got an opportunity to strike pads after the instructors showcased a range of the techniques taught.
“You’re pretty good at this, Tyler!” said Sgt. Mark Green, an instructor trainer at the MACE, as 10-year-old Tyler, one of Lopez’s grandsons, struck the pad twice with a distinct PAT – PAT. “I think we might be able to use you here as an instructor!”
Following their demonstration and after a tour of the infamous Raider Hall, Green welcomed the boys to come back whenever they wanted to do more training with the MACE Marines.
“It’s not every day you get to be with the family of someone so iconic of what it means to be a Marine,” said Bumgardner. “Every Marine has the potential to be a leader like 1st Lt. Lopez, but potential for leadership does not make a leader. Only leaders who step up will make a mark and the Lopez family has the blood of one of those leaders.”
Correspondent: paris.capers@usmc.mil