28 Aug 2004 Sixto was in my basic training company, "D" Company, 5th Battalion, First Training Brigade at Fort Polk, Louisiana, from September 20, 1967 to November 17, 1967. He was in the 3rd Platoon and I was in the first. Sixto was a quiet guy who went about completing basic training in the best way he could. Sixto was one of the fastest runners in the company. We had a distance runner who was very near world class. In the final PCT mile for record, this guy was very close to the Fort Polk mile run record. Sixto was a few seconds behind him in the run. That was my memories of Sixto. He did the best he could even though he was in the Army under Selective Service. I don't remember anything adverse or out of synch. He was one of the guys, just doing his best. Sixto began his tour in Vietman on March 23, 1968 as an infantryman, was promoted to Sergeant, and was a squad leader. Sixto was killed in a mortar attack about 2 weeks before his year long tour was to be completed. He died on March 8, 1969. I will always remember him. Bill Brown bmbrown@grandecom.net Sixto in Hand to Hand Combat Training D-5-1, Fort Polk, Louisiana, Fall 1967

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall Between 28 Feb and 08 Mar 1969 the 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry fought a series of engagements with NVA forces in the vicinity of Tien Phuoc, Quang Tin Province. The battalion lost 23 men in the fighting. Five of those losses came on 08 March: A Company: SGT Sixto R. Martinez, Galveston, TX SP4 Donald L. Rupe, Cedar Rapids, IA C Company: SGT Ralph D. Veale, King City, MO SP4 Thomas R. Gregson, Attica, MI SP4 Kenneth E. Miller, New Boston, MI Both Sergeant Martinez and SP4 Rupe initially were classed as "missing in action", placing their families in a special kind of limbo. Although both were recovered, that did not happened at once ... a DoD press release dated 27 March noted their change in status from Missing to Killed in Action. Sixto R. Martinez, Jr, Sergeant, United States Army, was buried on 04 Apr 1969 in Site 1997, Section W, Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas, among other men of honor and integrity.

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