Joe P . Martinez Private Joseph Pantillion Martinez ( July 27 , 1920 – May 26 , 1943 ) born in Taos , New Mexico , was a United States Army soldier who posthumously received the Medal of Honor — the United States ' highest military decoration — - for his actions on the Aleutian Islands during World War II . Private Joseph P . Martinez was the first Hispanic - American and first Coloradan to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II . His posthumous award was the first act for combat heroism on American soil ( other than the 15 at Pearl Harbor ) since the Indian Wars . Early years . Joe Martinez was one of nine children born to Jose Manuel Martinez and Maria Eduvigen Romo , both who were natives of New Mexico . In 1927 , his father , who was an agricultural laborer , decided to move from Taos , New Mexico to Ault , Colorado . There Martinez received his primary and secondary education . On August 1942 , he was drafted into the United States Army and sent to Camp Roberts , California where he received his basic training . World War II . On June 6 , 1942 , Japanese forces invaded the island of Kiska and on June 7 , the island of Attu . These islands are the western most island on the Aleutian chain and are part of Alaska . The U . S . feared that the islands would be used as bases from which to launch aerial assaults against the West Coast , and it became a matter of national pride to expel the first invaders to set foot on American soil since the War of 1812 . After Martinez completed his basic training , he was assigned to Company K , 32d Infantry , 7th Infantry Division . The 7th Infantry Division landed at Holtz Bay , Attu . On May 26 , 1943 , 32nd Infantry Regiment was engaged in combat in the vicinity of Fish Hook Ridge against enemy troops . The regiment was pinned down by enemy fire and Martinez on his own account led two assaults . He fired rifle into the Japanese foxholes and the men of his unit followed . Martinez was shot in the head as he approached one final foxhole after the second assault , dying of the wound the following day . Martinez was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor . Private Martinez was the first Hispanic - American recipient who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for combat heroism on American soil during World War II . Medal of Honor citation . Pvt . JOE P . MARTINEZ " Rank and organization : " Private , U . S . Army , Company K , 32d Infantry , 7th Infantry Division . " Place and date : " On Attu , Aleutians , May 26 , 1943 . " Entered service at : " Ault , Colorado " Birth : " Taos , New Mexico " G . O . No . : 71 , October 27 , 1943 . " Citation : " Honors . Martinez was buried with full military honors at Ault Cemetery , Ault , Weld County in Colorado . On April 13 , 1945 , the United States Navy named one of its ships , which served as a troop transport during the Korean War , the USNS " Private Joe P . Martinez " . The state of Colorado has honored his memory by naming a street and renaming a former base reception center and early officer ' s club which currently serves as the service center after him . The government named a Disabled American Veterans chapter in Colorado and an American Legion post in California in his honor . Three statues were erected with his likeness and are located in the Colorado cities of Ault , Greeley and Denver . The U . S . Army also named an Army Reserve military installation in Denver , Colorado after Martinez . The 7th Infantry Division honored him by naming the Fort Ord Welcome Center ( originally the Post Headquarters built in 1941 ) Martinez Hall in 1977 . Although Fort Ord closed in 1993 , Martinez Hall still serves as a Veterans Transition Service Center . Awards and recognitions . Among Private Joe P . Martinez ' decorations and medals were the following :