Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient. He posthumously received the award (presented to his family) from Secretary of the Navy Paul R. Ignatuis at the Marine Barracks, Washington DC, on August 27, 1968, for his actions as a 2nd lieutenant with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, near Con Thien, in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. He graduated from Niagara University, Niagara Falls, New York with a BA in History in 1965, then joined the US Marine Corps Reserve, and received a commission as a 2nd lieutenant the following December. In June 1966 he was sent to South Vietnam, and the following year, during Operation Prairie, he was mortally wounded as a result of an enemy ambush of his company. He was interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery at Lewiston, New York. He was also awarded the Purple Heart (with one gold star). The US Navy maritime prepositioning ship USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo is named in his honor. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Weapons Platoon Commander, Company I, Third Battalion, Ninth Marines, Third Marine Division, in Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 30 March 1967. Company I was establishing night ambush sites when the command group was attacked by a reinforced North Vietnamese company supported by heavy automatic weapons and mortar fire. Lieutenant BOBO immediately organized a hasty defense and moved from position to position encouraging the outnumbered Marines despite the murderous enemy fire. Recovering a rocket launcher from among the friendly casualties, he organized a new launcher team and directed its fire into the enemy machine gun position. When an exploding enemy mortar round severed Lieutenant Bobo's right leg below the knee, he refused to be evacuated and insisted upon being placed in a firing position to cover the movement of the command group to a better location. With a web belt around his leg serving as tourniquet and with his leg jammed into the dirt to curtail the bleeding, he remained in this position and delivered devastating fire into the ranks of the enemy attempting to overrun the Marines. Lieutenant BOBO was mortally wounded while firing his weapon into the main point of the enemy attack, but his valiant spirit inspired his men to heroic efforts, and his tenacious stand enabled the command group to gain a protective position where it repulsed the enemy onslaught. Lieutenant BOBO's superb leadership, dauntless courage, and bold initiative reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."