Bruno Orig, US Army soldier of Pinoy descent, awarded with posthumous Medal of Honor

Private Bruno Orig, a soldier of the US Army who is of Filipino-descent, was one of seven veterans honored by US President Joe Biden with the Medal of Honor for their bravery beyond the “call of duty” during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

The Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest medal for valor in combat that can be awarded to members of the armed forces.

Orig was born in January 1930 in Honolulu, Hawaii to Filipino parents, Gregoria and Hilario. His stepfather Leon Omboy was also from the Philippines.

Bruno’s father, stepfather, older brother and younger brother all served in the U.S. Army in World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War.

After graduating from Farrington High School in 1949, Orig enlisted in the U.S. Army and was trained as a light weapons infantryman.

Orig served under Company G, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division that saw heavy action in the vicinity of Chipyong-ni, Korea.

According to his commendation, Orig on February 15, 1951 discovered his wounded comrades while returning from a wire-laying mission. He aided them in an exposed position, completely disregarding his own safety.

He also removed the wounded to safety with the assistance of several soldiers from the company post.

While returning from one of these missions of mercy, Orig noticed a member of a machine gun crew had been wounded, and without hesitation, he volunteered to man the weapon.

Remaining in this position, Orig placed such “effective fire on the enemy” that a withdrawing friendly platoon was able to move back without a single casualty.

Later that day, when the lost ground was recaptured by US forces, Orig’s body was found beside his weapon and the area in front of his gun was strewn with enemy dead.

After Orig’s death in combat, his younger brother Francis Omboy also served in the Army and later fought in Vietnam.

His 91-year-old sister Loretta is the only living member of the eight Orig/Omboy children, and their family military service has continued, according to the US Army.

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

Orig was awarded the Medal of Honor for “extraordinary heroism and selfless sacrifice.”

His remains are buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl Crater in Honolulu.
—RF, GMA Integrated News