FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Gary W Martini ~ 05 June 2023

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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

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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]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

[The Mayor]

June 5

Seasons

Bible in a Year:

• 2 Chronicles 23–24
• John 15

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 I recently came across a helpful word: wintering. Just as winter is a time of slowing down in much of the natural world, author Katherine May uses this word to describe our need to rest and recuperate during life’s “cold” seasons. I found the analogy helpful after losing my father to cancer, which sapped me of energy for months. Resentful of this forced slowing down, I fought against my winter, praying summer’s life would return. But I had much to learn.

Ecclesiastes famously says there’s “a season for every activity under the heavens”—a time to plant and to harvest, to weep and to laugh, to mourn and to dance (3:1–4). I had read these words for years but only started to understand them in my wintering season. For though we have little control over them, each season is finite and will pass when its work is done. And while we can’t always fathom what it is, God is doing something significant in us through them (v. 11). My time of mourning wasn’t over. When it was, dancing would return. Just as plants and animals don’t fight winter, I needed to rest and let it do its renewing work.

“Lord,” a friend prayed, “would You do Your good work in Sheridan during this difficult season.” It was a better prayer than mine. For in God’s hands, seasons are purposeful things. Let’s submit to His renewing work in each one.

Reflect & Pray

When have you wanted a season to end before its time? What do you think God wants to do in you this season?

Father God, thank You for using every season for Your glory and my good.

For further study, read When God Says No: Broken Dreams to New Beginnings.

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy!

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Gary W Martini ~

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...hoping your back chose to “pop” back into place sometime today.

The sun keeps coming out and it’s nice standing out on the deck talking to the boys. Late yesterday there were 2 geese that I had to chase away. They are nasty! I do not want them in the yard! Fortunately, most of them have never figured out how to get past the trees to land, but these 2 seem to be following the ducks and coming up out of the creek. GRRRR!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Hope you have all your ducks in a row and are ready for the new week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mooch...hope your spring and the beginning of summer are bringing you nice weather.

[PROCON]

Good evening Kathy and thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero!

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

Yes, it popped back in place not long before I went to bed this morning. The muscles are still sore from being cramped so long but that will pass. Just laid low all day so they can rest and heal.

I noticed ya’ll finally got some sunshine up there today. WOOHOO! I’ll bet everyone has been in a better frame of mind after so many dreary days. It’s certainly a much cheerier view on the Lake Hood cam.

Glad to hear you got some deck time today and had duck visitors. Boohiss on the geese still trying to horn in. I’d hoped they’d moved on by now.

[MoochPooch]

Weather today has been surprisingly cool, pretty much this week, but I’ve no complaints. The less I use the AC, the better.

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hurrah for your cooler weather. Enjoy!

[Kathy in Alaska]

In first...radu grabs the gold!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And in second....The Mayor snags the silver!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And rounding out the top three....Mooch bags the bronze!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hey there, Pro...hope you had a nice relaxing weekend. Did you do yard work?

[SkyDancer]

Good Evening Kathy! (((HUGS))) I’m on the other computer so no graphics yet. Great jump day though. Beautiful weather.

[PROCON]

Hi Kathy, no yardwork today, just relaxing, mow on Tuesday. How was your Sunday?