Walter Joseph "Joe" Marm Jr. (born November 20, 1941) is a retired United States Armycolonel and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War.[2][3]
By September 1965, Marm was serving in the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). On November 14, he was a second lieutenant and platoon leader of 2nd Platoon, A Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).[5] On that day, during the Battle of Ia Drang, he single-handedly destroyed an enemy machine-gun position and several of its defenders, suffering severe wounds in the process. Marm survived his wounds and was subsequently promoted to first lieutenant; on December 19, 1966, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.[6]
Marm reached the rank of colonel before retiring from the army in 1995.[4][1] Marm is an Eagle Scout.[1][7] As such, he is one of only eleven known Eagle Scouts who also received the Medal of Honor.
Medal of Honor citation
First Lieutenant Marm's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. As a platoon leader in the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), 1st Lt. Marm demonstrated indomitable courage during a combat operation. His company was moving through the valley to relieve a friendly unit surrounded by an enemy force of estimated regimental size. 1st Lt. Marm led his platoon through withering fire until they were finally forced to take cover. Realizing that his platoon could not hold very long, and seeing four enemy soldiers moving into his position, he moved quickly under heavy fire and annihilated all 4. Then, seeing that his platoon was receiving intense fire from a concealed machine gun, he deliberately exposed himself to draw its fire. Thus locating its position, he attempted to destroy it with an antitank weapon. Although he inflicted casualties, the weapon did not silence the enemy fire. Quickly, disregarding the intense fire directed on him and his platoon, he charged 30 meters across open ground, and hurled grenades into the enemy position, killing some of the 8 insurgents manning it. Although severely wounded, when his grenades were expended, armed with only a rifle, he continued the momentum of his assault on the position and killed the remainder of the enemy. 1st Lt. Marm's selfless actions reduced the fire on his platoon, broke the enemy assault, and rallied his unit to continue toward the accomplishment of this mission. 1st Lt. Marm's gallantry on the battlefield and his extraordinary intrepidity at the risk of his life are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.[8]
Political endorsement
Marm, a conservative Republican, endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2016. Marm traveled with Trump to election rallies and appeared on stage with him at numerous locations including Selma, North Carolina on November 3, 2016.[9]
^ abcde"COL Walter "Joe" Marm, Jr". Army Heritage Center. from the original on 2020-07-30.
^"Vietnam War - U.S. Army Walter J. Marm Jr. - Medal of Honor Recipient". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 2007-07-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients (M-Z)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. October 3, 2003. from the original on 2007-12-14. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
^ abLange, Katie (2018-04-01). "Army Lieutenant Charges Enemy, Saves Platoon in Vietnam". DoD Live. from the original on 2019-08-11.
^"Walter J. Marm, Jr". TriWest Healthcare Alliance. from the original on 2018-04-04.
^Silver, Jonathan D. (2000-04-25). "Vietnam, 25 years later: 'In-country' only two months, Joe Marm soon became a hero". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. from the original on 2018-04-04.
^"Interview with Walter Joseph Marm, Jr. [n.d.]". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-08-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Vietnam (M – Z Full-text citations)". The Official Home Page of the United States Army. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
^Full Speech: Donald Trump Rally in Selma, NC 11/3/16 on YouTube
Walter Marm at the Congressional Medal of Honor's channel on Vimeo
January 07, 2023
walter, joseph, marm, walter, joseph, marm, born, november, 1941, retired, united, states, army, colonel, recipient, united, states, military, highest, decoration, valor, medal, honor, actions, vietnam, walter, marm, 2014nickname, joeborn, 1941, november, 1941. Walter Joseph Joe Marm Jr born November 20 1941 is a retired United States Army colonel and a recipient of the United States military s highest decoration for valor the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War 2 3 Walter Joseph Marm Jr Walter Marm in 2014Nickname s JoeBorn 1941 11 20 November 20 1941 age 81 Washington Pennsylvania 1 AllegianceUnited StatesService wbr branchUnited States ArmyYears of service1965 1995RankColonelUnitA Company 1st Battalion 7th CavalryBattles warsVietnam War Battle of Ia DrangAwardsMedal of HonorPurple Heart Contents 1 Early life 2 Military career 3 Medal of Honor citation 4 Political endorsement 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditMarm was born in Washington Pennsylvania 1 to Walter and Dorothy Marm a Pennsylvania State police officer and retail clerk respectively 4 He graduated from Duquesne University with a business degree in 1964 1 He then joined the United States Army from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania graduated from Officers Candidate School and attended Ranger School Military career EditBy September 1965 Marm was serving in the Republic of Vietnam South Vietnam On November 14 he was a second lieutenant and platoon leader of 2nd Platoon A Company 1st Battalion 7th Cavalry Regiment 1st Cavalry Division Airmobile 5 On that day during the Battle of Ia Drang he single handedly destroyed an enemy machine gun position and several of its defenders suffering severe wounds in the process Marm survived his wounds and was subsequently promoted to first lieutenant on December 19 1966 he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions 6 Marm reached the rank of colonel before retiring from the army in 1995 4 1 Marm is an Eagle Scout 1 7 As such he is one of only eleven known Eagle Scouts who also received the Medal of Honor Medal of Honor citation Edit First Lieutenant Marm s official Medal of Honor citation reads For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty As a platoon leader in the 1st Cavalry Division Airmobile 1st Lt Marm demonstrated indomitable courage during a combat operation His company was moving through the valley to relieve a friendly unit surrounded by an enemy force of estimated regimental size 1st Lt Marm led his platoon through withering fire until they were finally forced to take cover Realizing that his platoon could not hold very long and seeing four enemy soldiers moving into his position he moved quickly under heavy fire and annihilated all 4 Then seeing that his platoon was receiving intense fire from a concealed machine gun he deliberately exposed himself to draw its fire Thus locating its position he attempted to destroy it with an antitank weapon Although he inflicted casualties the weapon did not silence the enemy fire Quickly disregarding the intense fire directed on him and his platoon he charged 30 meters across open ground and hurled grenades into the enemy position killing some of the 8 insurgents manning it Although severely wounded when his grenades were expended armed with only a rifle he continued the momentum of his assault on the position and killed the remainder of the enemy 1st Lt Marm s selfless actions reduced the fire on his platoon broke the enemy assault and rallied his unit to continue toward the accomplishment of this mission 1st Lt Marm s gallantry on the battlefield and his extraordinary intrepidity at the risk of his life are in the highest traditions of the U S Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country 8 Political endorsement EditMarm a conservative Republican endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2016 Marm traveled with Trump to election rallies and appeared on stage with him at numerous locations including Selma North Carolina on November 3 2016 9 See also Edit Biography portalList of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam WarReferences Edit a b c d e COL Walter Joe Marm Jr Army Heritage Center Archived from the original on 2020 07 30 Vietnam War U S Army Walter J Marm Jr Medal of Honor Recipient Congressional Medal of Honor Society Retrieved 2007 07 10 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients M Z Medal of Honor citations United States Army Center of Military History October 3 2003 Archived from the original on 2007 12 14 Retrieved 2007 07 10 a b Lange Katie 2018 04 01 Army Lieutenant Charges Enemy Saves Platoon in Vietnam DoD Live Archived from the original on 2019 08 11 Walter J Marm Jr TriWest Healthcare Alliance Archived from the original on 2018 04 04 Silver Jonathan D 2000 04 25 Vietnam 25 years later In country only two months Joe Marm soon became a hero Pittsburgh Post Gazette Archived from the original on 2018 04 04 Interview with Walter Joseph Marm Jr n d Library of Congress Retrieved 2020 08 27 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Vietnam M Z Full text citations The Official Home Page of the United States Army Retrieved 2020 08 27 Full Speech Donald Trump Rally in Selma NC 11 3 16 on YouTube This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Walter Joseph Marm Jr Interview at the Pritzker Military Museum amp Library Appearances on C SPAN Walter Marm at the Congressional Medal of Honor s channel on Vimeo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walter Joseph Marm Jr amp oldid 1131132788, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
