The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PFC Martin James, 39465780, who died in the service of his country on February 8th, 1945 in Luzon. The cause of death was listed as KIA. At the time of his death Martin was 21 years of age. He was from Fall City, Washington.
The decorations earned by PFC Martin James include: the Combat Medical Badge, the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Burial:
Fall City Cemetery
Fall City
King County
Washington, USA
Martin was an American-Indian medic. It is likely he was attached to Easy Company and died going to the aid of William J Finn. His name is sometimes confused with a James Martin, who may have also been a WWII KIA but not with the 35th Infantry.
Martin Enlisted in 1943 and was a fisherman/oysterman.
25th Infantry Division General Orders No. 105, dated 8 April 1945, which awards the Silver Star to "Pfc. Martin James, Medical Department, United States Army, for gallantry in action against the Japanese forces at Lupao, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 6 February 1945. Private First Class James, serving as an aid man with an infantry platoon which was advancing against well-emplaced enemy tank and machine gun positions, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, in the face of heavy enemy fire, went to the aid of a wounded man from another unit who had called for help. During this action he was also wounded, and caught in a blaze of enemy crossfire which thwarted all attempts to remove the wounded man and himself to a position of safety. Realizing that rescue was impossible because of the intense concentrated fire on their position, Private First Class James remained at the side of his wounded comrade and attempted to regain his lines under cover of darkness, at which time he was killed by enemy gunners. Private First Class James heroic and gallant action was a great inspiration to his fellow soldiers, reflecting credit upon himself and the Medical Department of the United States Army. Next of Kin: Mr. Doe James, (Father), Box 5, Snoqualinie Falls, Washington."
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