Ault in Weld County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Pvt Joe P. Martinez

World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient

— July 27, 1920 - May 26, 1943 —

Pvt Joe P. Martinez Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, October 12, 2017

1. Pvt Joe P. Martinez Marker

Inscription.
Private Martinez was mortally wounded on Attu Island after leading a successful charge to capture a mountain pass. He single handedly destroyed more than thirty enemy defenders. For this heroic efforts and supreme sacrifice he was awarded the

Congressional Medal of Honor
on October 27, 1943.
*Only serviceman from Weld County to receive the Medal of Honor to date.
*First Hispanic American in WWII from the United States to receive the Medal of Honor.
*First Private in WWII to receive the Medal of Honor.

Erected 1994.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list.

Location. 40° 34.929′ N, 104° 44.109′ W. Memorial is in Ault, Colorado, in Weld County. It can be reached from the intersection of 1st Street (Colorado Route 14) and First Avenue, on the right when traveling east. The statue of Pvt Joe P. Martinez stands in Liberty Park, Ault CO. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 115 1st St, Greeley CO 80631, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Colorado’s Front Range.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and on the Great Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ault Centennial (here, next to this marker); Liberty Park

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(here, next to this marker); Ault High School (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Weld County Irrigation / Ault Country (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pierce, Colorado (approx. 3.9 miles away); Benjamin Harrison Eaton (approx. 4.2 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. 4.2 miles away); The Denver Pacific Railway (approx. 9.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ault.

More about this memorial. The plaque with the inscription is attached to the statue of Pvt. Joe P. Martinez

Regarding Pvt Joe P. Martinez. MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION
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

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 26, 2000

2. Pvt Joe P. Martinez Marker

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.

Pvt Joe P. Martinez Burial Site at Ault Cemetery in Ault, Co. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 26, 2000

3. Pvt Joe P. Martinez Burial Site at Ault Cemetery in Ault, Co.

He is in Block 2, Section 15, Lot 1. The grave GPS Coordinates are N40.5904 W104.7256

Pvt Joe P. Martinez Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 26, 2000

4. Pvt Joe P. Martinez Statue

This statue of Joe P. Martinez is located in Bittersweet Park, Greely CO.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 25, 2012

5. Pvt Joe P. Martinez Statue

This statue of Joe P. Martinez is located in Lincoln Park, Denver CO

Pvt. Joe Martinez Road Sign in Pueblo, CO. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 19, 2000

6. Pvt. Joe Martinez Road Sign in Pueblo, CO.

Pvt Joe P. Martinez Actions in a Cartoon. image. Click for full size.

January 31, 2009

7. Pvt Joe P. Martinez Actions in a Cartoon.

Pvt Joe P. Martinez image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Wikipedia

8. Pvt Joe P. Martinez

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 28, 2024

9. Pvt Joe P. Martinez Marker

Sculpture by Maxine

Wide view of Pvt Joe P. Martinez statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 28, 2024

10. Wide view of Pvt Joe P. Martinez statue

Surrounded by two other memorials Picnic shelter is to the left.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 23, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,080 times since then and 82 times this year. Last updated on July 1, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. Photos: 1. submitted on October 13, 2017, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on January 23, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 8. submitted on February 23, 2013, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 9, 10. submitted on July 1, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.