FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Gary W Martini ~ 15 February 2021

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Gary W. Martini

Info from here.

           

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! 

 

[radu]

I’d rather have your 6 inches of snow than the ice we’re in store for. I HATE ICE STORMS! Freezing rain/sleet tonight through tomorrow and maybe an inch or two of snow tomorrow night.
We aren’t as cold as most caught in this mess but it’s plenty cold. Supposed to warm up by next weekend.

Good that you’re able to get out and about. Our road doesn’t get any brine so it’ll be too slick to go anywhere for a couple of days at least. Our biggest worry is the power going out.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...are you still fighting the cold. Our really cold, cold seems to have migrated south. Stay warm!

He wouldn’t leave his fellow Marine...a hero for sure.

[radu]

I kinda figured they’d called the service off. It’s really bad over there. I’m glad your hubby was able to get to the church and back without any problems when he went to turn the heaters off.

I couldn’t believe all the snow I saw on the radar when I woke up today. TX really got hit!

I’m glad at least Li’l Bit is inside now since she doesn’t snuggle with the others. I’ll bet SHE’S mighty glad too! Happy warm lil girlie.

As cold as it is, you should put hot water in their dish outside. It’ll cool off quickly enough for them to get a drink and will take a little longer to freeze up. Poor kitties with their “dining room” covered with snow. Thank goodness the snow’s stopped now. If only the bitter cold would move back where it belongs ..... WAY up north.

We’ve had freezing fog the last two days and nights and the thin glaze of ice is going to make it easy for ice build-up tonight and tomorrow. It’s all a matter of how much we get.

[luvie]

I couldn’t believe it either...the entire state is under those warnings. The kitties come and grab a few bites and a drink of water and then hurry off to the warm spots.

She is happy. I gave her Peaches’ bed since it’s too warm for his chunky butt, and she was purring up a storm when I went to visit her just now. She doesn’t need constant company, but I go in every so often so she doesn’t feel totally isolated.

With the ice you are getting, I’m relieved that you have already gotten all your supplies and won’t have to get out on those roads. Even salted, they can have hidden ice patches. Hope this rough weather misses you. Steve said it was 84 in Orlando today. LOL!

[PROCON]

Thanks Kathy, we have about 6" of snow and a bit more coming, nothing big but it is cold, mostly in the teens and 20's.

We'll manage. Just another winter day for you, huh?

[MS.BEHAVIN]

How sweet!
I.O.U. by Lee Greenwood was our first dance as husband and wife!
Thanks, Sissy!
Good evening everyone!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh boy...busy day. Lots of fun with kids and grands.

[Kathy in Alaska]

"...because he always represents to me the extreme courage and selflessness that happened so often in our war".

Good evening, Chainmail...so, so true. Thanks for sharing your story.

[radu]

I can see why all of TX is under the warning. It’s bad over there plus very cold.

Pretty much all of TN is under warnings too.
Just watched the forecast and if it goes the way they said it will, we shouldn’t get a heavy hit. Looks like patchy hits overnight but a more solid hit tomorrow. But w e won’t get above freezing until Wed. so whatever comes down is here for a while.

It’s too bad Ginger gets in such a snit about the others. I’ll bet Li’l Bit would be happy to be an inside kitty a lot of the time. Bet she enjoys the attention too. :-)

It pays to watch the weather so you know when you need to have extra stuff on hand and such. They don’t do anything to the road we’re on so there’ll be no getting out to the highway where they do a little brining. Too much up and down between here and there.

Dang, 84 in Orlando today? I’d love to be there right now. LOL

[luvie]

Awwww...I’m glad that one was on the list, Sis! (((hugs)))

It’s always good to see you pop in for a bit. Your cold weather got lost and made its way to Texas. You can have it back. LOL!

[luvie]

She would be a lovely indoor cat, and I think Peaches would accept her after just a little bit. But Ginger...no. She is very jealous of her “position” in the house. LOL!

I’m glad you won’t have a prolonged bout of this weather. One day is quite enough. Not having to get out in it is a plus. The only thing I’ve done is step out the back door to give the kitties food and water. Which I need to do again now.

Oddly enough, by NEXT Sunday, it will be back into the 60s. LOL! Hope you warm up as well. At least all this snow will give us much needed moisture, though it was mostly powder. There was a lot of it.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hey there, radu...did you have more snow? Is it still icing everything?

Ash said they are getting a good dose of snow tonight, with more coming.

No sun here today.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, luvie...thanks for helping honor this so young hero.

Are you still cold?

[BatGuano]

God Bless Gary Martini, a young Marine who gave his life while trying to save fellow Marines.
“Where do we get these brave men?”
In West Virginia and forty nine other states of our Great Nation.
May it ever be so.
God bless the USA.

[Kathy in Alaska]

90% done. I left a box full of shredding (after I filled the box in accounting...LOL). I will email our guy in the office to let me know when our box is emptied.

[radu]

Her temperament would make her an ideal inside cat. Sweet, low-key, not a trouble-maker. The kind of temperament I wish all of our cats had. A few do but most don’t. They’re all sweet but many are lacking in the rest. LOL

I sure hope it’s only going to be only a day’s worth of getting ice. The whole system could decide to slow down. Mother Nature has her own ideas. We have tomorrow and Tues. in the 20s with lows in the teens, then we barely break freezing Wed. They SAY we’ll have mid 40s Sat. and Sun. and we sure hope THAT doesn’t change!

Even though it’s snow, I’m glad you got some wet on the ground. Every little bit counts.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Happy Valentime's Day, MS B! ((HUGS))

[radu]

Hey there, Kathy.

No snow for us. Freezing fog and now sleet or freezing rain. I haven’t stepped outside to see which it is.

Ash has a big batch of snow heading her way. It’s been a rough day in her neck o’ da woods. She should have some nice snow pix when it’s all over. I wonder if she’ll get video of the dogs reacting to it. It might be the first time they’ve seen snow.

The sun peeked out a couple of times at the airport but it was brief. At least there wasn’t snow or thick fog for a change.

[luvie]

It is very cold...7/feels like -5. And lots of snow and ice on the ground. I had to dig the kitties’ food and water dishes out of all of it to feed them tonight. Luckily the snow has moved on. The Ft. Worth area was bad too. All of Texas has been.

You’re very tough to put up with much worse than this year after year. LOL! I’d go insane. I like cold weather up to a point. And we went past that point yesterday. :)

[Kathy in Alaska]