Private Joseph P. Martínez
U.S. Army, 7th Infantry Division, 32nd Infantry Regiment

Background
Joseph Pantillion Martínez was Mexican-American born July 27, 1920 in Taos, New Mexico to parents José Manuel Martínez and María Eduvigen Romo and was one of seven children. Nicknamed "Joe", his surname is also spelled Martinez. At age seven, the family moved to Ault, Colorado where his father worked as an agricultural laborer. He completed primary school and high school.

Wartime History
During August 1942, he was drafted into the United States Army and sent to Camp Roberts in California where he received his basic training. Afterwards, assigned to Company K, 32nd Infantry Regiment (32nd IR), 7th Infantry Division (7th ID).

On May 11, 1943 part of the U.S. Army landing on Attu Island with the "southern force" at Massacre Bay then advanced inland. On May 26, 1943 in the vicinity of Fish Hook Ridge, the 32nd Infantry Regiment was pinned down by Japanese machine gunfire fire from foxhole positions. On his own initiative, Martínez led two assaults using his M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) rifle to fire at Japanese foxholes and positions killing five enemy machine gunners as the men in his unit followed behind. Approaching a final foxhole, he was shot in the head and severely wounded and later died.

Medal of Honor
For his actions on May 26, 1943, he earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously. He was the first Hispanic American to earn the Medal of Honor, the first Private in the U.S. Army to earn the Medal of Honor, first soldier in the 7th Infantry Division to earn the Medal of Honor and first serviceman from Colorado to earn the Medal of Honor and one of nine form New Mexico.

Medal of Honor citation, posthumously (G.O. No.: 71, October 27, 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 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 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."

Memorials
Martínez is buried at Ault Cemetery in Alut, Colorado.

A bronze statue of Pvt. Joe P. Martinez is displayed at the Weld County Veterans Memorial in Greeley, Colorado. The statue depicts him wearing his uniform and helmet holding a BAR rifle with one hand extended dedicated on Veterans Day, November 11, 1997. At the base of the statue is a plaque that reads: "In grateful memory of Private Joe P. Martinez, A.S. No. 37332507, WHO DIED IN THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY in the North American Area, May 26, 1943"

Another bronze statue of Pvt. Joe P. Martinez by artist Emanuel Martínez is located in Denver, Colorado.

On April 13, 1945 the U.S. Navy (USN) renamed SS Stevens Victory as USS Pvt. Joe P. Martínez was named in his honor.

References
NARA - Joe P. Martínez
FindAGrave - Joe P. Martínez (photo, grave photo)

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