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° 34.926′ N, 104° 44.166′ W. Marker is in Ault, Colorado, in Weld County. Memorial can be reached from West First Avenue south of County Road 82 (Colorado Highway 14), on the left when traveling south. The statue of Pvt Joe P. Martinez is located in Liberty Park, Ault CO. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ault CO 80610, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Weld County Irrigation / Ault Country (approx. ¼ mile away); Pierce, Colorado

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(approx. 3.9 miles away); Benjamin Harrison Eaton (approx. 4.2 miles away); The Denver Pacific Railway (approx. 9.2 miles away); State Armory (approx. 11 miles away); Lincoln Park (approx. 11.1 miles away); The Pioneer Fountain (approx. 11.1 miles away); Masonic Temple (approx. 11.1 miles away).

More about this marker. 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 Harbor had failed. On 26 May 1943, troop dispositions were readjusted and a trial coordinated attack on this position by a reinforced battalion

Photographed By Don Morfe, August 26, 2000

2. Pvt Joe P. Martinez Marker

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

Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2017. It was originally submitted on January 23, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,300 times since then and 50 times this year. 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. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.

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