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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 machine gun, 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
364:. 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
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military installation in Denver, Colorado after
Martinez. The 7th Infantry Division honored him by naming the Fort Ord Welcome Center (originally the Post Headquarters built in 1941)Martinez Hall in 1977. Although Fort Ord closed in 1993, Martinez Hall still serves as a Veterans Transition Service
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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
303:(BAR) into the Japanese foxholes, killing five machine gunners, and the men of his unit followed. Martínez was shot in the head as he approached one final foxhole after the second assault, dying of the wound the following day. Martínez was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
299:. On May 25, 32nd Infantry Regiment was engaged in combat in the vicinity of Fish Hook Ridge against enemy troops. The regiment was pinned down by enemy machine gun fire and Martinez on his own account led two assaults. He fired his
252:, was one of seven children born to José Manuel Martínez and María Eduvigen Romo, both who were natives of New Mexico. In 1927, his father, who was an agricultural laborer, decided to move from Taos, New Mexico to
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Private Martínez was the first
Hispanic-American recipient who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for combat heroism on American soil during World War II.
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invaded the island of Kiska and on June 7, the island of Attu. These islands are among the westernmost islands on the
Aleutian chain and are part of
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to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II. His posthumous award was the first act for combat heroism on
American soil (other than the 15
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Martínez was buried with full military honors at Ault
Cemetery, Ault, Weld County in Colorado. On April 13, 1945, the
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841:"Joe P. Martinez Medal of Honor Wall on the Medal of Honor Wall at Camp Roberts in California"
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After Martínez completed his basic training, he was assigned to
Company K, 32d Infantry,
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216:— the United States' highest military decoration —- for his actions on the
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Among
Private Joe P. Martínez' decorations and medals were the following:
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Center. The City of Denver has also named a park after
Private Martinez, "
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named one of its ships, which served as a troop transport during the
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Private, U.S. Army, Company K, 32d
Infantry, 7th Infantry Division.
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Bronze Statue of Pvt. Joe P. Martinez by Maxine at the
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United States Army personnel killed in World War II
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619:List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
46:Private Joe P. Martínez, Medal of Honor recipient
652:Dedication of a July 1988 statue of Martinez in
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965:World War II recipients of the Medal of Honor
411:", which is at 900 N Raleigh St, Denver, CO.
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950:United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
416:Gallery of images related to Joe P. Martínez
224:. Private Joseph P. Martínez was the first
906:"Private Joe P. Martinez Bronze Sculpture"
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200:(July 27, 1920 – May 26, 1943) born in
264:where he received his basic training.
746:"MOH Citation for Joseph P. Martinez"
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699:Congressional Medal of Honor Society
767:"Military Installations – States C"
960:American people of Mexican descent
634:Hispanic Americans in World War II
624:Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients
396:Weld County Veterans Memorial Park
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332:On Attu, Aleutians, May 26, 1943.
720:"Battle of the Aleutian Islands"
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402:. The U.S. Army also named an
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677:Hispanics in Americas Defense
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27:U.S. Army soldier (1920–1943)
970:People from Taos, New Mexico
876:"Veterans Transition Center"
955:United States Army soldiers
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891:"USS Pvt. Joe P. Martinez"
589:World War II Victory Medal
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198:Joseph Pantillion Martínez
792:army.togetherweserved.com
654:Civic Center Park, Denver
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826:"Joe P. Martinez Statue"
788:"Martinez, Joe, P., PVT"
549:Combat Infantryman Badge
301:Browning Automatic Rifle
282:United States West Coast
262:Camp Roberts, California
116:United States of America
579:American Campaign Medal
569:Army Good Conduct Medal
476:Awards and recognitions
387:Private Joe P. Martinez
310:Medal of Honor citation
159:, 7th Infantry Division
409:Joseph P Martinez Park
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324:Rank and organization:
350:71, October 27, 1943.
293:7th Infantry Division
134:Years of service
466:Pvt. Joe P. Martínez
318:Pvt. JOE P. MARTINEZ
336:Entered service at:
696:"MARTINEZ, JOE P."
682:2011-05-17 at the
447:Statue of Martínez
377:United States Navy
258:United States Army
206:United States Army
128:United States Army
910:Maxine Sculptures
862:on April 27, 2010
856:"Joe P. Martinez"
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272:On June 6, 1942,
226:Hispanic-American
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222:World War II
210:posthumously
208:soldier who
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189:Purple Heart
168:World War II
164:Battles/wars
157:32d Infantry
76:(1943-05-26)
74:May 26, 1943
940:1943 deaths
935:1920 births
797:December 9,
286:War of 1812
244:Early years
238:Indian Wars
155:Company K,
929:Categories
772:3 February
751:3 February
730:2006-11-28
704:29 January
640:References
381:Korean War
228:and first
112:Allegiance
58:1920-07-27
916:March 20,
354:Citation:
348:G.O. No.:
230:Coloradan
137:1942–1943
680:Archived
597:See also
575:2nd Row
555:1st Row
204:, was a
196:Private
122:Service/
105:Colorado
846:May 15,
394:at the
392:Greeley
220:during
146:Private
545:Badge
451:Denver
400:Denver
398:, and
383:, the
371:Honors
362:defile
342:Birth:
278:Alaska
181:Awards
124:branch
89:Alaska
385:USNS
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833:2010
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152:Unit
142:Rank
101:Ault
81:Attu
71:Died
52:Born
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