"In January of 1945, the Battalion moved to Luzon in the Philippine Islands where we remained for one year, first giving suppport to the ground forces and later building Army installations." - Bobby Thompson
"My Dad was also the barber for the outfit, does anyone remember him who is still alive?" - John Martinez
More pictures of Andres with his buddies at Luzon
"After completing our mission on Luzon we were ordered to Palu, Hawaii, and arrived there in April of 1946." - Bobby Thompson
"In October of the same year, a New Caledonia struck the Marianas, and the 79th was called upon to repair the damage incurred on New Caledonia." - Bobby Thompson
"In December, 1946 the Battalion again returned to Hawaii and remained there until deactivated on 4 June 1947." - Bobby Thompson
"Dad talks proudly of his service, but is not in the best of health now at the age of 80." - John Martinez
September 2004 Update
The following mini-stories are based upon an interview with Andres Martinez after his dismissal from a 3 week stay in the hospital in September 2004. He is now 82 years old and in poor health. He was frustrated that he could not remember more about his proud service years, fellow comrades and other brave men of the 79th. Since the interview, my Dad is back in the hospital in failing strength and spirit. For proud men who were active and have worked hard all their life, to be limited in their ability to tend to their own needs strikes deep at their perception of individual self-worth. - John Martinez
Memories of War … by Andres Martinez
79th Engineers WWII Pacific Campaign 1943 - 1945
Within Dad's outfit there were many from New York State, having never left Texas, he was very interested in learning more about other areas. He also recalls other large groups from New Mexico and Texas in the 79th.
After training in Kansas, the 79th were boarded on a train and off to San Francisco for their Philippine deployment. The armada of ships were filled to the brim with willing soldiers. They slept on the deck on cots and for many just like Dad, this was their first time at sea and sea sickness was rampant. The convoy was large, he could see ships all around, no ships were lost until they reached their destination.
Upon their arrival, the transport ships shed the human cargo and they loaded onto the landing crafts. They took fire from the hills where the Japanese were still dug in even after air and sea bombardment. His company quickly got off the beach and began heading into the jungle were the 79th and others converged and formed two lines for the long hike to the higher ground. There were causalities from the landing; and, his first face-to-face encounter with the Japanese happened on the hike.
Snipers began picking off the troops as they moved to higher ground; the company stopped and took offensive action; but then the more horrifying action began. He clearly remembers that the attacks became Japanese soldiers with bayonets who randomly attacked our soldiers and then disappeared back to the jungle. Many of the attackers didn't make it as they were killed before or after an attack. Before falling victim himself to a bayonet attack to his right side, Andres was horrified to see a few U.S. troops beheaded by sword wielding enemy. Lucky for him, his attacker was killed during the attack and his injury was not life threatening. The severely injured were taken to one of the ships, while others were moved over to another island for recuperation. Andres doesn't remember how long he was laid up after his stitch-up work, but he was placed on light duty for close to a month. It was during this light duty assignment he was the battalion's barber at "Andres Tonsorial Parlor". Interesting that on his discharge papers, his Purple Heart medal is not listed.
On the initial island hike up to the erected tent base camp, Andres recalls seeing many dead Japanese tied to trees. When he asked how this all came about, not much was said. Dad's opinion was that due to the action and continuous fire, conditions were not favorable to take and manage prisoners. To the solider on the field, it was all about meeting the objective and staying alive.
Dad does not remember how many times his squad was under fire, but it was plenty. He was glad when he made Sergeant, it gave him the opportunity to wear a 45 side arm because while performing their duties, his M-1 was not always close by.
He recalls the use of helicopters to ferry men to stop attackers from their hill cave positions that hindered the 79th's work. During one such attack, he remembers taking cover beside a destroyed jeep. The Japanese were opportunists just waiting for the right time to attack; upon the completion of a bridge, the Japanese destroyed it. The 79th just rebuilt it and continued their island hoping mission and next assignment.
As for his squad of eight tasks, they laid down train tracks on many islands. He chuckles at the fact he never saw how the trains were unloaded off the ships or how they were placed on the rails they completed. His squad had bridge building as another primary task. Two members of his squad were killed in action performing these duties. It was their regular routine before working any task that would take more than a few hours to dig their foxholes first because attacks on the work of the 79th were a regular hazard. He knows that many Purple Hearts and folded flags were presented back home as a result of the campaign.
One Sunday while in the Philippines a group from the 79th decided to attend a Catholic Church for services, to their surprise the Japanese had destroyed the large and locally cherished church prior to their arrival.
He recalls some more details of the transport ship destroyed; there was talk of an order mess-up or a change in orders. The company that was unloaded in the bay was ordered to reload and ship out to another island. Upon their exit from the island the ship was blown-up, he doesn't recall any details as to what caused the tragedy, though he does recall having conversations with some of the doomed ship's men as they were initially unloading.
Getting local fruit was easy as a couple of cigarettes; the Philippinos were ready to get you sugar cane, coconuts, bananas and pineapples. At the base camp, bananas were hanging from the center of the tent after the day's work. There were usually 4 to 5 soldiers to each tent in addition to the biting insects, spiders and snakes. The military was still a segregated group, even the 79th. Blacks and Latinos though treated mostly as equals had their own tents. Because of the common Spanish language of the Philippinos and Latinos, they were a needed group within the 79th as interpreters.
Dad's squad did have a mascot, a black long tailed monkey was befriended by his squad. There was a picture once of Dad and their monkey, but it is hasn't been seen in a few years. When it was time for the 79th to move on to their 3rd island, the monkey was left with other remaining troops. The monkey would run up the trees for food and then would return to the squad.
He did have the opportunity to see MacArthur when his motorcade came by their position. His impression was that he was truly the General in-charge.
Three months after the surrender of the Japanese, it was once again on the troop transport ships. The 79th was excited that it was rumored they would stop at Pearl Harbor. Pearl was their stop, but it was only for supplies and they were not allowed to leave the ship.
To thank Andres for sharing these stories send John Martinez a short e-mail by clicking here:
Just wanted to let you know that my source for stories of WWII and the
79th, went silent early this morning. My Dad and family sincerely
appreciated your efforts of the website and encouraging words from you
and
others in the 79th. There were so many other conversations that were
wanted, but I will now have to wait awhile to have them again with him.
Thanks ...
John Martinez
On behalf of all the veterans of the 79th Engineer Battalion through the decades of it's existence, our heartfelt condolence goes out to the Martinez family. Everything that is currently known about the history of the battalion during World War II is because of Andres. Not only that, but it's such a great blessing to know he was a true hero in combat. Bronze Stars, Purple Hearts -- We Salute Him. May he rest in peace, and may the Martinez family be blessed.
