Bucyrus Secondary School honored the memory of Bucyrus native Harry Martin for Veterans Day
Bucyrus Secondary School held its annual Veterans Day Memorial event that was centered around the figure of Bucyrus native and medal of honor recipient Harry Martin who fought and died in the battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.
“He gallantly gave his life in service of his country,” said Bucyrus Historical Society Trustee Randy Fischer who gave the presentation about Martin.
Fischer reminded the students that WWII claimed 60 million lives worldwide including 109 residents of Crawford County who did not make it home. At the same time, the war brought about serious societal changes, and one of them was that women joined the workforce.
The outcome of the war was among others defined on its Pacific frontline. The U.S. said Fischer deployed its “Island Hopping” tactics – conquering island over island moving closer to Japan.
In the view of this tactic, the Island of Iwo Jima had a prior significance as an airfield for emergency landings that helped save 25,000 airmen lives. It was in this battle that Martin earned his medal of honor and died.
Martin's Life Before WWII
Martin, born in 1911 in Bucyrus, graduated from Bucyrus High School (BHS) in 1928. He descended from both William Crawford after whom Crawford County was named and Native Americans.
He was described as a 5’-6” tall, 130 lb, C+ student, who was “the most determined boy in school,” said Fischer. Martin tried three colleges but had to leave to work on the Hoover Dam as the depression hit in 1929.
He finally graduated in 1935 with a degree in business. By college he grew to 5’-11” and gained weight, but he was cut in football as too slow. He then lettered in wrestling where his determination played in his favor.
“You have to want it more than the other guy you’re wrestling again,” said Fischer.
When the war started, Martin was around 30, and he would not have been drafted due to age. However, he wanted to join the army and traveled from Hawaii where he worked at that time in construction back to continental U.S. to enroll.
“Harry was determined to enlist, he traveled to Washington D.C. paying his way,” said Fischer.
Heroic Death
He landed on Iwo Jima in February 1945. During the battle, seeing that part of the American troops was surrounded, he fought his way with a pistol to bring them back to their lines. He then noticed that the Japanese took over a U.S. machine gun pit.
Armed with a pistol, Martin charged, killing four Japanese around the gun pit and was finally killed by grenades on his parents 36th wedding anniversary. His remains were moved to Bucyrus in 1948 at his parents’ request following a local fundraising campaign.
The last Japanese on Iwo Jima were found in 1949 hiding, but not surrendering. Of the 22,000 Japanese soldiers who lived by Bushido Code prohibiting surrender, only about 1,000 survived. In the 35-day-long Battle of Iwo Jima almost 6,000 U.S. Marines were killed.
Of 434 medals of honor awarded in WWII, 27 were given out during the 35 days of the Iwo Jima Battle, said Fischer, so intense the fighting was there.
Today, Martin’s legacy is honored with a Courthouse Monument, a plaque on North Sandusky Bridge, and with dedication of part of Route 30 in his honor. With his life, he proved that determination matters above all else.
“Harry was determined in everything he did,” said Fischer. “You don’t have to be the biggest, the fastest, the strongest, the smartest, the best-looking person to succeed in life,” said Fischer.
Other Veterans Day celebrations in Bucyrus
Other Veterans Day celebrations in Bucyrus included a ceremony at Trustwell Living with a 21-gun salute that was held Thursday, and Veterans Day Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at BHS planned for Saturday.
“This is always a moving event, even if you are not a veteran,” said Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser in his most recent report to the City Council.
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Bucyrus Secondary School honored native son Harry Martin for Veterans Day
