The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Sergeant Joseph Thomas Martin (ASN: 37703556), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company A, 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion (Separate), 1st Airborne Task Force, in action against the enemy near Fort La Force and Fort Mille Fourches, France, on 1 November 1944. Private Martin was with a twelve man patrol on a mission to determine the strength and disposition of enemy positions. While the patrol was en route it was suddenly fired upon by enemy machine guns and rifles, and was unable to advance or withdraw in the face of the intense fire. The members of the patrol jumped from the road and proceeded down a steep, snow-covered slope toward another road two hundred and fifty yards below. Upon reaching this road the patrol leader discovered that several men were wounded and one man was missing. The missing soldier was seen lying in the snow about two hundred yards up the hill. The patrol leader called for two volunteers to return for the wounded man. Private Martin and another soldier, well knowing the dangers involved, promptly volunteered, immediately left their place of comparative safety, and began the slow torturous climb back up the steep, snow-covered slope. On their way up the hill they were again fired upon, and as they crawled to within a few yards of the wounded man, they saw him get hit by a burst of machine gun fire. Still determined, the two men crawled on, reached the soldier and dragged him down the slope, where, a few minutes later, he died from the many wounds he had received. Private Martin’s gallant actions in attempting the save the life of a wounded comrade are in keeping with the traditions of the military service. Entered the military service from Trinidad, Colorado.