Tampa honors Marine who sacrificed his life to save fellow soldiers (Photo)

A seven-foot bronze statue of Medal of Honor recipient Baldomero López will be unveiled near Waterworks Park, honoring a Tampa native whose extraordinary act of courage saved fellow Marines more than 75 years ago.

TAMPA, Fla. — October 27, 2026 (DUANEWS) — The City of Tampa is honoring one of its most celebrated military heroes with a life-size bronze statue commemorating First Lieutenant Baldomero López, a U.S. Marine who sacrificed his life to protect fellow servicemembers during the Korean War.

According to an official announcement provided to DUANEWS by the City of Tampa, the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), in partnership with the city, will unveil the seven-foot-tall statue outside Waterworks Park on Tuesday, October 27.

The monument recognizes a 25-year-old Marine whose final moments on September 15, 1950, became an enduring example of courage and selflessness.

A Hero’s Final Act

López was killed during his first day of combat while participating in the Battle of Inchon, one of the most significant military operations of the Korean War.

According to accounts from fellow Marines, López was struck by enemy machine-gun fire while attempting to throw a hand grenade.

Critically wounded and unable to release the grenade, he made a split-second decision that would save the lives of the Marines around him.

He rolled his body over the explosive, absorbing the blast rather than allowing it to injure his fellow servicemembers.

His extraordinary sacrifice later earned him the Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest military decoration.

From Ybor City to the Battlefield

Born and raised in Tampa’s historic Ybor City neighborhood, López was the son of immigrants whose life reflected the opportunities and responsibilities of his adopted American heritage.

He graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1943 before attending the United States Naval Academy and subsequently joining the Marine Corps.

When the Korean War began in the summer of 1950, López volunteered to serve as an infantry officer.

Within three months, he was leading Marines into battle during the Inchon landings.

A photograph taken by war correspondent Marguerite Higgins captured López exposing himself to enemy fire shortly before his death.

In 1951, his parents traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive his posthumous Medal of Honor.

Tampa Leaders Remember His Sacrifice

Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera described the statue as a long-awaited tribute to a local hero whose legacy deserves to be remembered by future generations.

“Lt. Baldomero López is an American hero who represents the best of Tampa,” Viera said.

He added that the monument will allow residents and visitors along Tampa’s Riverwalk to reflect on López’s patriotism, courage, and sacrifice.

Mayor Jane Castor also praised the Marine’s extraordinary bravery.

“First Lt. Baldomero López gave everything in service to his fellow Marines and his country, and Tampa has carried his story forward for more than 75 years,” Castor said.

The mayor emphasized that the statue will help ensure future generations understand the story of a hometown hero who gave his life to save others.

A Monument Built to Preserve History

The bronze statue, fully funded by Tampa’s Community Redevelopment Agency, represents a longstanding project supported by Councilman Viera.

The sculpture was developed by an artist in northern Florida, beginning with a clay model constructed over a framework of metal and foam before being cast in bronze.

The statue depicts López in his military uniform, including the Medal of Honor awarded after his death.

López remains one of only two servicemembers from Tampa to receive the nation’s highest military decoration.

His name has long been remembered throughout the city through memorial plaques, historical markers, an elementary school, a swimming pool, and a veterans’ nursing home.

Now, the new monument will give residents and visitors a lasting visual reminder of his life.

A Legacy That Lives Beyond the Battlefield

More than 75 years after his death, Baldomero López’s story continues to represent courage, sacrifice, and service to others.

The statue outside Waterworks Park will stand as a public tribute to a young Tampa Marine whose final act demonstrated extraordinary devotion to his fellow servicemembers.

For Tampa, the monument is more than a memorial. It is a reminder of the city’s history and the sacrifices made by those who served their country.

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