World War II Honoree

Martin L. Allday

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Austin, Texas

Honored By

John C. Burkhardt AAG MOPH Chapter 1919 Austin, Texas

Relationship

Patriot

DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY AUGUST 31, 1944. WENT THROUGH TRAINING AT CAMP HOOD, TEXAS WITH ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN OAHU AND SAIPAN. AT AGE 18 HE WAS ASSIGNED AS FIRST SCOUT, COMPANY C, 382ND INFANTRY, 96TH (DEADEYE) DIVISION. AFTER LEAVING SAIPAN HE WENT THROUGH ENIWETOK AND ULITHI. FROM THERE HE WENT BY SHIP, ZIG-ZAGGING TO OKINAWA. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO A SQUAD THAT HAD ONLY 2 MEMBERS REMAINING OF THE ORIGINAL SQUAD ASSIGNED. FIGHTING INTENSIFIED AS THEY MADE THEIR WAY TO SUGAR LOAF AND CONICAL HILLS. ON MAY 10, 1945 THEY WERE ORDERED TO RELIEVE THE 7TH INFANTRY THAT HAD SUFFERED HEAVY LOSSES AND TO TAKE ZEBRA HILL. ON MAY 11 HE WAS SHOT IN THE HAND AND ALSO RECEIVED A SHRAPNEL WOUND TO THE FACE WHEN HE WAS HIT BY PIECES OF A HELMET THAT HAD BEEN SHOT OFF THE SECOND SCOUT'S HEAD THAT WAS FIGHTING BESIDE HIM. HE WAS SENT TO GUAM FOR ADDITIONAL MEDICAL ATTENTION. AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM HIS WOUNDS HE WAS SENT BACK TO HIS ORIGINAL UNIT. THE DAY HE RETURNED OKINAWA WAS DECLARED TO BE SECURED. HE AND THE REMAINING FEW OF HIS UNIT WERE THEN ASSIGNED THE TASK OF BLOWING UP THE REMAINING CAVES, BUNKERS AND ENEMY PILLBOXES. BASED ON HIS SERVICE IN OKINAWA HE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, BRONZE STAR, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE AND A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION. HE WAS THEN SHIPPED TO MINDORO, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN PREPARATION FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN. WHILE EN ROUTE THE ATOMIC BOMBS WERE DROPPED ON JAPAN, SAVING HIS LIFE AND COUNTLESS OTHER LIVES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WAR. HE WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE 81ST INFANTRY DIVISION AND SHIPPED TO LUZON, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WHERE HE SERVED OUT THE REMAINDER OF HIS MILITARY OBLIGATION UNTIL OCTOBER 1946, WHEN HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED.