Walter Joseph ‘Joe’ Marm Jr.
U.S. Army/Vietnam
A
s A lpha
C ompany , 7 th A ir C avary , landed in the Ia Drag Valley in
1965, young Joe Marm had been in Vietnam just two months. It would
be the second platoon commander’s first time under fire.
A well-planned ambush hit the 500 troopers as soon as the choppers hit the
LZ and chaos reigned in the opening minutes of what would be one of Vietnam’s
pivotal battles.
Trying to move his unit to reinforce the remnants of a disseminated lead
platoon, Marm was held back by an NVA gun emplacement. Attacking over 100
feet of open ground with only grenades and his rifle, Marm silenced the position,
killing 12-18 of the enemy.
Marm’s action was effective, saving his men from a deadly torrent of fire, but
it was also costly — less than an hour into his combat experience, he was shot
in the face. Medevac’d stateside, his jaw was reconstructed, and a year later he
received the Medal of Honor.
In 1969, Marm returned to Vietnam at his request.
“I felt like I should pull my share of the hardship tours,” he said. “I was really
there just to lead them and set the example and do the best I could,” Marm says
now. “I always say I wear the medal for all those brave men who were in that
battle whose actions went unsung. My actions happened to be observed.”
Photo courtesy The Medal of Honor Project
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