Education
Gómez attended Omaha High School before enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve on August 11, 1949, at the age of 17.
Gómez attended Omaha High School before enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve on August 11, 1949, at the age of 17.
After recruit training at MCRD San Diego, California, he trained at Camp Pendleton, California, and went to of Korea with the 7th Replacement Draft.
The United States" highest decoration for valor was awarded to Gómez for extraordinary heroism on September 14, 1951, at Kajon-ni, during the Battle of the Punchbowl when he smothered a hand grenade with his own body to prevent destruction of his Marine machine gun team In addition to the Medal of Honor, PFC Gomez was awarded the Purple Heart with a Gold Star in lieu of a second award, the Korean Service Medal with bronze star, and the United Nations Service Meda
Boldly advancing with his squad in support of a group of riflemen assaulting a series of strongly fortified and bitterly defended hostile positions on Hill 749, Private First Class Gómez consistently exposed himself to the withering barrage to keep his machine gun supplied with ammunition during the drive forward to seize the objective.
