http://www.neta.com/~1stbooks/m-uu.htm

Joseph Pantillion Martinez                              Medal of Honor Recipient, World War II                           He Gallantly gave his life for his country, age 23

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, Colorado   Birth:   July 27, 1920 at Taos, New Mexico   Killed in action.   Buried at:  Ault Cemetery - Ault, CO 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 knife like 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.                    The following information is provided by Anita (Gonzales) Willis       My grandmother's brother, Joe P. Martinez, was killed in World War II in 1943 at the Aleutian Islands. He was the first Hispanic, the first drafted enlisted man, and the first Weld County serviceman to recieve the military's highest award, the congressional medal of honor, in World War II.        He told his troops he wanted to be home by Christmas by and encouraged them to move forward . He would yell "Come on let's go" and this slogan was put on U.S. bonds. He single handedly took out much of the enemy. Three statues were erected in his honor and are located in Ault, Greeley and Denver, Colorado. Further information on Joseph Pantillion Martinez     Back to http://www.neta.com/~1stbooks/medal2.htm Medal of Honor Recipients, Americans of Hispanic Heritage