Return to Naval Historical
Center home page.
Return to Online
Library Listing
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --
First Lieutenant Harry L. Martin, USMCR, (1911-1945)
Harry Linn Martin was born on 4 January 1911 in Bucyrus, Ohio.
He attended Bucyrus High School and Michigan State College, East
Lansing, Michigan. While at Michigan State, he was an avid athlete
and served in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. In 1936, Martin
graduated from college and began employment with the Hawaiian
Construction Tunnel Company of Honolulu, Hawaii.
Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve
in August 1943, after completing his training Martin became an
Engineer Officer and was assigned to the Second Battalion (later
the 5th Pioneer Battalion), Sixteenth Marines, Fifth Marine Division.
In the June of 1944, his unit was transferred to Hawaii to prepare
for Pacific Theater combat operations.
On 19 February 1945, as a platoon Leader with the Fifth Pioneer
Battalion, Martin went ashore during the first day of the invasion
of Iwo Jima. He was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant on
1 March. At dawn on 26 March, as the main fighting on the island
neared an end, several hundred Japanese attacked his unit's bivouac
area. Martin organized resistance, rescued surrounded Marines
and, until mortally wounded by a grenade, led a counterattack.
For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk
of his life, " he was posthumously awarded the Medal
of Honor. Harry L. Martin is buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Bucyrus,
Ohio.
USNS 1st LT Harry L. Martin, (T-AK-3015), 2000-____,
is named in honor of First Lieutenant Martin.
This page features the only image we have concerning Harry
L. Martin.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 103909
First Lieutenant Harry L. Martin, USMCR
Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official
publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy",
page 221.
Harry L. Martin received the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for
"conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his
life" on 26 February 1945, during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 48KB; 620 x 765 pixels |
 |
Medal of Honor citation of First Lieutenant Harry Linn Martin,
USMCR (as printed in the official publication "Medal
of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 221):
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk
of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Platoon Leader
attached to Company C, Fifth Pioneer Battalion, FIFTH Marine
Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima,
Volcano Islands, 26 March 1945. With his sector of the Fifth
Pioneer Battalion bivouac area penetrated by a concentrated enemy
attack launched a few minutes before dawn, First Lieutenant Martin
instantly organized a firing line with the Marines nearest his
foxhole and succeeded in checking momentarily the headlong rush
of the Japanese. Determined to rescue several of his men trapped
in positions overrun by the enemy, he defied intense hostile
fire to work his way through the Japanese to the surrounded Marines.
Although sustaining two severe wounds, he blasted the Japanese
who attempted to intercept him, located his beleaguered men and
directed them to their own lines. When four of the infiltrating
enemy took possession of an abandoned machine-gun pit and subjected
his sector to a barrage of hand grenades, First Lieutenant Martin,
alone and armed only with a pistol, boldly charged the hostile
position and killed all of its occupants. Realizing that his
few remaining comrades could not repulse another organized attack,
he called to his men to follow and then charged into the midst
of the strong enemy force, firing his weapon and scattering them
until he fell, mortally wounded by a grenade. By his outstanding
valor, indomitable fighting spirit and tenacious determination
in the face of overwhelming odds, First Lieutenant Martin permanently
disrupted a coordinated Japanese attack and prevented a greater
loss of life in his own and adjacent platoons. His inspiring
leadership and unswerving devotion to duty reflect the highest
credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly
gave his life for his country." |
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
Page made 20 July 2006