Navy Federal Credit Union

Martin Hoehn grew up in Queens, New York, and graduated from Saint John’s University. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1930, and served as curate at Saint Agatha’s Church in Brooklyn, until he entered military service in March 1942. He continued in military service through the Korean War, and retired in March 1962 after 20 years of service. Following retirement from active duty in 1971, he joined the faculty of Saint Francis College in Brooklyn, New York, where he taught theology. Next he took an assignment as pastor of a small, impoverished parish in Oklahoma where he used his monthly Army retirement checks to make repairs and otherwise pay for the daily expenses of the church. From there, he travelled to Nevada where he served as chaplain for a small convent. In retirement, he took up residence in Tacoma, Washington.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    5th Field Artillery Group

    Division:

    THIRD U.S. Army

    Action Date:

    June 1944

    Headquarters, XX Corps, General Orders No. 40 (1944)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) Martin Charles Hoehn, United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a chaplain with the 5th Field Artillery Group, THIRD U.S. Army, in operations France, during the breakout from Saint Lo, in June and July 1944. Chaplain Hoehn’s unit was moving forward on a road away from the beachhead. As the command vehicle rounded a corner, a Tiger tank was waiting and fired a shot into the command vehicle, killing the commanding officer and his driver. The tank then proceeded to shoot up the rest of the column. With the commanding officer dead and the rest of the unit about to be destroyed piece-meal. Chaplain Hoehn realized that he was the senior officer present. He drew a .45 caliber pistol and rallied the troops with the cry of “Let’s get the bastards!” He then proceeded to organize resistance to the tank and direct bazooka fire which disable the tank. He then led a charge to swam the tank, eventually destroying it. Because of Chaplain Hoehn’s actions, the lives of dozens of U.S. Soldiers were saved. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Chaplain Hoehn, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    31st Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    7th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    November 29, 1950

    Headquarters, 7th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 103 (1950)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain (Chaplain’s Corps) Martin Charles Hoehn, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Regimental Chaplain with the 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy at the Chosin Reservoir, in North Korea, on 29 November 1950. As units of the Regiment were making its way up the east side of the reservoir, the 31st Medical Company, disregarding warnings, left Hudong for the inlet in the middle of the night, and was ambushed near Hill 1221. Determined to reach the survivors, Chaplain Hoehn took an ambulance to try and recover the wounded. He overtook a tank-infantry column that had been on a rescue mission. The lead tank had been knocked out of action by enemy fire and was partially blocking the road to the ambush site. Chaplain Hoehn jumped out of the ambulance and with hand signals began directing the driver through the tight squeeze around the inert tank. When a Chinese bullet mortally wounded the driver, Chaplain Hoehn clambered aboard the still-moving vehicle and brought it to a halt before it fell over the steep verge into the cornfield. Unable to convince anyone to continue forward with him, Chaplain Hoehn advanced alone on foot, backtracked down the stalled column, evading friendly as well as enemy fire, stopping from time to time to succor the needy wounded. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Chaplain Hoehn, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.