The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*MARTINEZ, JOE
P .
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.
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