PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
GARY WAYNE MARTINI, USMC (DECEASED) 
 

Medal of Honor Citation

Gary Wayne Martini, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during April 1967 in Vietnam, was born 21 September 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 3 March 1966, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at Portland, and was ordered to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. He received recruit training with the 3d 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, 2d 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, 2d Battalion, 8th Marines, 2d Marine Division. While serving in this capacity, he was promoted to private first class during September 1966.

Transferred to the Far East in the Republic of Vietnam that December, PFC Martini joined Company F, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. During Operation Union at Binh Son, Da Nang, on 21 April 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.

Vietnam War Medal of Honor