Gilivaldo A Martinez, JrStaff Sergeant498TH MED CO (AA), 43RD MED GROUP, 1 LOG CMD Army of the United States 13 October 1944 - 11 November 1965 Lamesa, Texas Panel 03E Line 041 |
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The database page for Gilivaldo A Martinez, Jr
Gilivaldo A. Martinez was born in Riverside, California and raised in Clovis, New Mexico and Lamesa, Texas. His family called him by his middle name as he was a "Junior". He completed high school in Lamesa and entered the Army October 16, 1962 three days after he turned 18. He completed basic training at Fort Polk and medic training at Fort Sam Houston. He served as a medic and ambulance driver/attendant at Fort Hood and returned to Fort Sam Houston after re-enlisting and he joined the 498th Medical Company and trained as an air ambulance medic. The 498th deployed to Vietnam in September 1965 and Specialist 5 Martinez was on flight status and his unit was operating out of Qui Nhon. On November 11, 1965, he was a part of a medical evacuation for a wounded Korean soldier and in the process of coming in for the landing, the helicopter was shot down. Specialist Martinez and two other crewman were killed. He was buried with full military honors at the Lawn Haven Garden of Memory's Cemetery in Clovis, New Mexico. He received a posthumous promotion to Staff Sergeant. His father Gilivaldo A. Martinez Sr. passed away in October 196 and is buried next to SSG Gilivaldo A. Martinez, Jr. His 84 year old mother and two brothers survive and all live in Clovis, New Mexico. He is remembered by the communities of Lamesa, Texas, by the community of Clovis, New Mexico and by the Permian Basin Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in Midland, Texas. May his sacrifice not be forgotten.
From a PBVVM representative, |
I never got to meet you but my dad told me a lot about you and I know that you were a good guy. I just wanted to say "Thank you". I realy wish I could have met you. I will always know you in my heart ... love you a lot.
From your niece,, |
A Note from The Virtual WallOn 11 Nov 1965 UH-1D tail number 64-13631 from the 498th Med Co (Air Ambulance) was shot down in the vicinity of Qui Nhon. Although the two pilots, MAJ Richard H. Scott and CPT Edward A. Haswell, survived their injuries, three crewmen died in the crash:
Medics on the Wall memorial which honors the Army Medics and Navy Corpsmen who died in Vietnam. |
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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 15 Dec 2006
Last updated 08/10/2009