Medal of Honor: Corporal Benito Martinez Korean War, September 6, 1952

Corporal Benito Martinez

Korean War – September 6, 1952

The hills of Korea were alive with fire and steel on the night of September 6, 1952, when a young machine gunner from Fort Hancock, Texas, made a choice that would cost him his life but save his comrades. Corporal Benito Martinez knew what was coming. The enemy was massing for an assault against the forward listening post he manned—an isolated, exposed position ahead of the main line.

When the attack came, it was ferocious. A reinforced enemy company crashed against his small post with mortars, grenades, and small arms fire. Martinez fought back with his machine gun, raking the advancing soldiers and buying precious time for the men behind him. The enemy infiltrated around his position, threatening to cut him off completely. Martinez’s comrades called him by phone, urging him to fall back. But Benito Martinez refused. He knew that if he abandoned his post, the enemy would break through and destroy his company’s defense. He chose instead to stay.

Hour after hour—six hours in total—he fought alone, his machine gun blazing, his rifle and pistol taking over when he was forced to withdraw to a smaller position. Every bullet he fired slowed the enemy, every moment of resistance giving his brothers time to regroup. When the call came through one last time, Martinez’s voice was steady: the enemy was closing in. He fought until the end, until his post was overrun in the gray light of dawn.

His sacrifice was not in vain. Because of his stubborn, fearless stand, friendly forces were able to reorganize and counterattack, driving the enemy back and retaking the ground. The key terrain, which could have been lost forever, was held because one man from Texas had refused to yield.

Medal of Honor Citation

Corporal Martinez, a machine gunner with Company A, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. While manning a listening post forward of the main line of resistance, his position was attacked by a hostile force of reinforced company strength. In the bitter fighting which ensued, the enemy infiltrated the defense perimeter and, realizing that encirclement was imminent, Cpl. Martinez elected to remain at his post in an attempt to stem the onslaught. In a daring defense, he raked the attacking troops with crippling fire, inflicting numerous casualties. Although contacted by sound power phone several times, he insisted that no attempt be made to rescue him because of the danger involved. Soon thereafter, the hostile forces rushed the emplacement, forcing him to make a limited withdrawal with only an automatic rifle and pistol to defend himself. After a courageous 6-hour stand and shortly before dawn, he called in for the last time, stating that the enemy was converging on his position. His magnificent stand enabled friendly elements to reorganize, attack, and regain the key terrain. Cpl. Martinez’ incredible valor and supreme sacrifice reflect lasting glory upon himself and are in keeping with the honored traditions of the military service.