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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Gary W Martini ~ 9-09 April 2018
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In the World !! | StarCMC and the Canteen Crew

Posted on 04/15/2018 5:02:44 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska


For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Gary W. Martini

Info from here.

ArmyPatch small   NavySeal small   Air Force Seal   Marines Seal small   Coast Guard Seal small (better)

Private First Class Gary Wayne Martini (September 21, 1948 - April 21, 1967) was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism in April 1967 during the Vietnam War.

Martini was born on September 21, 1948, in Lexington, Virginia. His early education was completed in Frankford, West Virginia, where he participated in intramural sports. After moving with his parents to Charleston, West Virginia, he attended Stonewall Jackson High School through the 11th grade. His family then moved temporarily to Portland, Oregon, and Gary attended David Douglas High School until February 1966.

On March 3, 1966, Gary Martini enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in Portland, Oregon and was ordered to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. He received recruit training with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, and upon graduation in May, was transferred to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, where he underwent individual combat training with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment.

He attended the Battalion Infantry Training School at Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, for one month prior to being transferred to Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in July 1966. After his arrival at Camp Lejeune, he was assigned duty as a rifleman with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. While serving in this capacity, he was promoted to private first class in September 1966.

Transferred to the Far East in the Republic of Vietnam in December 1966, PFC Martini joined Company F, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. During Operation Union at Binh Son, Da Nang, on April 21, 1967, he was mortally wounded when he went to the aid of his wounded comrades.

His medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Martini Hall (Building #622) at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego is named in honor of PFC Gary W. Martini. Martini completed his recruit training at MCRD San Diego in 1966.

Gary Wayne Martini's name is inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial ("The Wall") on Panel 8E, 61.

Martini Hall at Camp Horno in Camp Pendleton, CA is a chowhall named in honor of PFC Gary W. Martini.

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS GARY W. MARTINI UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifleman, Company F, Second Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam. On 21 April 1967, during Operation UNION, elements of Company F, conducting offensive operations at Binh Son, encountered a firmly entrenched enemy force and immediately deployed to engage them. The Marines in Private Martini's platoon assaulted across an open rice paddy to within twenty meters of the enemy trench line where they were suddenly struck by hand grenades, intense small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire. The enemy onslaught killed 14 and wounded 18 Marines, pinning the remainder of the platoon down behind a low paddy dike. In the face of imminent danger, Private Martini immediately crawled over the dike to a forward open area within 15 meters of the enemy position where, continuously exposed to the hostile fire, he hurled hand grenades, killing several of the enemy. Crawling back through the intense fire, he rejoined his platoon which had moved to the relative safety of a trench line. From this position he observed several of his wounded comrades lying helpless in the fire swept paddy. Although he knew that one man had been killed, attempting to assist the wounded, Private Martini raced through the open area and dragged a comrade back to the friendly position. In spite of a serious wound received during this first daring rescue, he again braved the unrelenting fury of the enemy fire to aid another companion lying wounded only twenty meters in front of the enemy trench line. As he reached the fallen Marine, he received a mortal wound, but disregarding his own condition, he began to drag the Marine toward his platoon's position. Observing men from his unit attempting to leave the security of their position to aid him, concerned only for their safety, he called to them to remain under cover and through a final supreme effort, moved his injured comrade to where he could be pulled to safety, before he fell, succumbing to his wounds. Stouthearted and indomitable, Private Martini unhesitatingly yielded his own life to save two of his comrades and insure the safety of the remainder of his platoon. His outstanding courage, valiant fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty reflected the highest credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

/S/ LYNDON B. JOHNSON

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

 


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport
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To: LUV W

The cold weather up north has wrecked the wheat crop and that’s why we figure Dusty decided to harvest his crop this year. He hasn’t the past few years because there wasn’t enough money in it. He planted it for fertilizer instead.
Just have to hope the cold doesn’t wreck it.

The ground there is like cement and here it’s mud. Seems like no one can win for losing. :-(

Sleep well. Hope Peaches is outside!
Catch ya tomorrow.


81 posted on 04/15/2018 11:13:03 PM PDT by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; LUV W; StarCMC
A very pleasant good Monday morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

82 posted on 04/15/2018 11:32:57 PM PDT by E.G.C.
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To: lightman

Semper Fi!


83 posted on 04/16/2018 1:43:48 AM PDT by KDF48 (Redeemed by Christ.)
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To: radu

I dance and play guitar and sing at the same time. MULTITASKING! LOL!


84 posted on 04/16/2018 7:15:46 AM PDT by left that other site (For America to have CONFIDENCE in our future, we must have PRIDE in our HISTORY... DJT)
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To: y'all; Arrowhead1952; beachn4fun; E.G.C.; GodBlessUSA; ConorMacNessa; Kathy in Alaska; HiJinx; ...

Well, what can I say, Early Birds.
It's Moanday!
Things are not as they seem.
Hope all y'all had a fantastic weekend!
Sounds like a lot of you still have winter for spring!
That's getting old.
Except here...I like it cooler than 90!
Enough time for that stuff in July!
Y'all have a Mahv'lus Monday!
....and a great week!
(((((hugs)))))

85 posted on 04/16/2018 8:16:36 AM PDT by luvie (Our troops are the best of the best and we should honor them EVERY day!)
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To: LUV W; All

Love the owls...Chilly beautiful morning here but we’ll reach 80 later...
Have a great week!


86 posted on 04/16/2018 8:28:16 AM PDT by MEG33 (Help Shorten FReepathons......DONATE MONTHLY)
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To: MEG33

Thanks! I thought they were cute. We’re at 75 right now headed toward 88. I hope it doesn’t make it that high, but it will probably get warmer than that. I’ll just be happy not to have another nasty sandstorm. LOL!

You have a great week, too!


87 posted on 04/16/2018 9:49:21 AM PDT by luvie (Our troops are the best of the best and we should honor them EVERY day!)
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To: E.G.C.

Howdy, EGC! (((hugs)))

All is well here. Pretty sunshiny day and warming right up. No rain yet and no real promise of any. Bummer!

Hope you and Bo have fun today! Where will your adventure take you? Is he beginning to see any turtles yet? What’s for supper?


88 posted on 04/16/2018 10:12:51 AM PDT by luvie (Our troops are the best of the best and we should honor them EVERY day!)
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To: LUV W

No turtles yet. I think he’s at a point in his life where he just lays around more than he does searching for turtles but he has been doing some exploring for stuff in tall grass.


89 posted on 04/16/2018 10:24:24 AM PDT by E.G.C.
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To: E.G.C.

He must like the way the tall grass tickles his tummy. :)


90 posted on 04/16/2018 10:38:42 AM PDT by luvie (Our troops are the best of the best and we should honor them EVERY day!)
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