[1][2] His father, also named Baldomero López, had immigrated to the United States from Asturias in the north of Spain as a young man.

[1][2] He enlisted in the United States Navy on July 8, 1943, shortly after graduating from high school, and served until June 11 of the next year.

[2] Moments later, while preparing to throw a hand grenade into a North Korean bunker, he was struck by automatic weapons fire in the chest and right shoulder, causing him to drop the activated device.

A Scripps-Howard war correspondent, Jerry Thorp, said in a news story on López's deed that he "died with the courage that makes men great.

"[1] Lopez's official Medal of Honor citation reads: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a Marine platoon commander of Company A, in action against enemy aggressor forces.

Taken under fire by an enemy automatic weapon and hit in the right shoulder and chest as he lifted his arm to throw, he fell backward and dropped the deadly missile.

[2] A Korean War memorial at the Ed Radice Sports Complex in Tampa was opened on November 11, 2007, and dedicated to Lopez.

The Dining Facility at The Basic School, the U. S. Marine Corps schoolhouse López attended upon commissioning, is named after him, and features a display documenting his actions.

[2] On April 26, 2023, President of South Korea Yoon Suk-yeol posthumously awarded López the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit.