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Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company K, 32d Infantry,
7th Infantry Division. Place and date: On Attu, Aleutians, 26 May 1943.
Entered service at: Ault, Colo. Birth: Taos, N. Mex. G.O. No.: 71, 27 October
1943. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond
the call of duty in action with the enemy. Over a period of several days,
repeated efforts to drive the enemy from a key defensive position high
in the snow-covered precipitous mountains between East Arm Holtz Bay and
Chichagof Harbor had failed. On 26 May 1943, troop dispositions were readjusted
and a trial coordinated attack on this position by a reinforced battalion
was launched. Initially successful, the attack hesitated. In the face of
severe hostile machinegun, rifle, and mortar fire, Pvt. Martinez, an automatic
rifleman, rose to his feet and resumed his advance. Occasionally he stopped
to urge his comrades on. His example inspired others to follow. After a
most difficult climb, Pvt. Martinez eliminated resistance from part of
the enemy position by BAR fire and hand grenades, thus assisting the advance
of other attacking elements. This success only partially completed the
action. The main Holtz-Chichagof Pass rose about 150 feet higher, flanked
by steep rocky ridges and reached by a snow-filled defile. Passage was
barred by enemy fire from either flank and from tiers of snow trenches
in front. Despite these obstacles, and knowing of their existence, Pvt.
Martinez again led the troops on and up, personally silencing several trenches
with BAR fire and ultimately reaching the pass itself. Here, just below
the knifelike rim of the pass, Pvt. Martinez encountered a final enemy-occupied
trench and as he was engaged in firing into it he was mortally wounded.
The pass, however, was taken, and its capture was an important preliminary
to the end of organized hostile resistance on the island.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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