As someone who was with Martinez in battle....., October 10, 2007 By Paul Gardner -
My name is Paul Gardner, known in the book as just "Gardner", and as someone who fought in battle with Sgt Martinez, I can and will vouch for this book. If it wasn't for Marco Martinez' actions that day, April 12, 2003, I would not be alive today. The enemy was trying their hardest to shoot me again and finish me off after the initial gun shot wound I suffered, hitting my spinal cord and immediantly paralyzing my body. I was forced to just watch the insurgents shoot round after round at my limp and motionless body. I was so scared and knew I was going to die. I passed out from shock.
What unfolded in the next five minutes while I was passed out was simply the most brave and selfless action I never got to see, just hear about and read about later. Martinez grabbed an enemy RPG and shot it at its own users, threw a frag grenade in the bunker, and stormed the bunker all by himself, killing every single insurgent inside, and allowing me to be medevaced out of there. ALOT of people are responsible for my being alive today, but Martinez' actions that day started my long road to recovery, and I owe the man my life.
Buy this book!!! You won't be disappointed. It's about as raw and dirty as you can get from just reading a memoir. The Iraq War has never been so perfectly documented before. And it shows people that no matter what you did growing up, all the bad stupid mistakes you made, you can be a great person and achieve anything. Martinez is a true American hero, as well as my hero!
Cpl Paul Gardner USMC (Ret)
Just incredible. Truly inspiring and what brotherhood is all about.
Semper Fi!
Thanks for your service and sacrifice sir!
Semper Fidelis, brothers. It’s what it’s all about!
TC
Sgt. Martinez’s book “Hard Corps: From Gangster to Marine Hero” just added to my ‘must have’ list. Thank you redstateone. And thank you Corporal Gardner both for your service and sacrifice and the recommendation.
Consequently, I have become a great fan of the Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, and Sailors. As long as evil is manifest in the World we need a military.