Gary W . Martini Private First Class Gary Wayne Martini ( September 21 , 1948 – April 21 , 1967 ) was a United States Marine who posthumous ly received the Medal of Honor for heroism in April 1967 during the Vietnam War . Early years . 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 . Marine Corps service . 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 . Medals and decorations . 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 . Medal of Honor citation . 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 weapon s , 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