By April Rodgers, Content Coordinator | FreeWire Magazine
Memorial Day is about honoring those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. While some of us may not have a personal connection to a fallen soldier, Bucyrus has a name we should all know—a name that stands for courage, sacrifice, and hometown pride: First Lieutenant Harry Linn Martin.
Born on January 4, 1911, right here in Bucyrus. Martin lived an ordinary life that would become extraordinary. He graduated from Bucyrus High School and later attended Michigan State College, now known as Michigan State University. There, he studied business administration and thrived as a student-athlete, participating in football, wrestling, boxing, and skiing. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha fraternity and, after graduation, took a job in Honolulu, Hawaii, managing a construction office. At that point, his story could have ended as a successful life lived quietly. But the world had other plans.
In 1943, Martin joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. After rigorous training in Virginia and North Carolina, he was assigned as an engineer officer in the 5th Marine Division. He landed on Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945—a battle that would become one of the bloodiest and most iconic of World War II. Martin was slightly wounded that first day, but he stayed in the fight. Promoted to First Lieutenant on March 1, he led his platoon with unwavering determination. In the early morning hours of March 26, just as the battle was winding down, a surprise attack by Japanese forces hit his unit. Instead of retreating, Martin sprang into action. He organized a defense, rescued his fellow Marines, and took the fight directly to the enemy. He died that morning—saving others with the kind of bravery that most of us only read about.
For his heroism, Martin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest military award this nation can give. His body was first laid to rest on Iwo Jima, but in 1948, he was brought home to Oakwood Cemetery at his mother’s request.
Today, you can see his Medal of Honor proudly displayed at Bucyrus High School. There’s also a historical marker in town to honor him. And fittingly, a U.S. Navy cargo ship was named in his memory: the USNS 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin.
This Memorial Day, as we fire up the grills and enjoy the long weekend, let’s also take a moment to remember First Lieutenant Harry L. Martin—a young man from Bucyrus who gave his life so others could live free. His story is not just history. It’s a legacy.
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