Fil-Am veteran awarded Medal of Honor for heroism in Korean War

President Joe Biden with Loretta Orig, sister of the late U.S. Army Pvt. Bruno R. Orig/Photo from Wikipedia

 President Joe Biden has presented Medals of Honor to seven soldiers for heroism in either the Korean War or the Vietnam War, including Filipino American US Army Pvt. Bruno R. Orig.

“I’m deeply privileged to honor seven American heroes,” Biden said at the White House ceremony on Jan. 3. 

“That’s not hyperbole. These are genuine, to their core, heroes. Heroes of different ranks, different positions, and even different generations. But heroes who all went above and beyond the call of duty. Heroes who all deserve our nation’s highest and oldest military recognition, the Medal of Honor.” 

The Medal of Honor was posthumously awarded to Pvt. Orig, whom Biden honored for “giving his own life to save the lives of his brothers in arms.”

“That’s valor. That’s the definition of valor,” Biden said. 

In his Medal of Honor citation, Orig was praised for his  “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.”

The award, which honors Orig’s “extraordinary heroism and selfless sacrifice,” was accepted by Pvt. Orig’s sister Loretta Orig of Kalihi, Hawaii.

Born in Honolulu, Hawai’I, to Filipino immigrant parents Hilario and Gregoria, Orig grew up with seven siblings and his stepfather Leon Omboy, also a Filipino.  

Orig came from a family of soldiers – his father, stepfather, older and younger brother all served in the US Army during World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War.

Following their footsteps, he enlisted in the US Army after graduating from Farrington High School in 1949.

Trained as a light weapons infantryman, Orig was assigned to serve under Company G, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division and was dispatched to a battleground near Chipyong-ni, Korea.

Remembering Private Bruno Raymond Abing Orig, U.S. Army, born Honolulu 1930, killed in action Korea 1951, buried at Punchbowl, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest military honor, by President Biden at the White House yesterday. https://t.co/H5peNvC7NJ pic.twitter.com/YoS871AZFM

— Rep. Ed Case (@RepEdCase) January 4, 2025

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A Fil-Am soldier’s moment of valor

On Feb. 15, 1951, Orig was returning from a wire-laying mission when he encountered several wounded comrades battling relentless enemy fire. 

Without hesitation, Orig rushed into the battle, administering first aid while under attack. With help from soldiers at the company command post, he moved the injured soldiers to safety.

When Orig noticed that all but one of a machine-gun crew had been wounded, he volunteered to man the weapon. Orig was so effective on the machine gun that a withdrawing friendly platoon was able to move back without a single casualty. 

Orig continued to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy until the company positions were overrun. Later, when the lost ground was recaptured, Orig was found dead beside his weapon, though the area in front of his gun was littered with enemy dead. He was 20 years old at the time. 

“Bruno saw his fellow soldiers were wounded and stranded under enemy fire,” Biden said.  “Without hesitation, he ran out to rescue them, giving his own life to save the lives of his brothers in arms 

Orig was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second highest military recognition. 

In 2021, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin conducted a review to ensure minority veterans properly received the honor they deserved. This initiative led to Orig’s actions to be considered for the Medal of Honor.

Highlighting the often-overlook contributions of minority soldiers, only 35 Asian or Pacific Islanders, 94 African Americans and 59 Hispanic are honored out of the 35,000 Medal of Honor recipients, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.