Rodolfo Martinez (1919 - 1941)

Born 1 Apr 1919 in San Diego, California, United States

Ancestors

Died 7 Dec 1941 at age 22 in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, United States

Biography

Rudolph Martinez is Notable.

Rudolph Martinez was awarded the Purple Heart.

Electrician's Mate Third Class Rudolph Martinez served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 1939
Unit(s): USS Utah (BB-31)
Service ended: 7 Dec 1941

Electrician's Mate Third Class Rudolph Martinez was Killed in Action 7 December 1941 aboard the USS Utah at Pearl Harbor during World War II.

EM3 Rudy Martinez was the first official Latino casualty of World War II. He was trapped inside the USS Utah when it sank during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Rodolfo/Rudolph Martinez, of Mexican-American descent, was born in 1919 to Rodolfo Martinez and Amelia Machado.^[1] He was the second of 4 children, though he also has an older brother from his mother's previous marriage and a younger brother from her third marriage. It is not clear when Rudy's father died; their last child was born in 1924.

By 1928, Amelia had married Antonio Perez, and the entire family was living with Perez in the 1930 census.^[2] In high school, Rudy excelled at wrestling and boxing. He also helped out at the family restaurant, Casa Machado.^[3] He enlisted in the Navy in 1939. In 1940, he was 21 and still living at home with his family.^[4]

Rudy was killed in action during the attack on Pearl Harbor after two torpedoes hit the USS Utah. The ship began listing, and after a failed attempt to save it, orders were given to abandon ship. However, Rudy was below decks with dozens of other crewmen; once the ship flipped, they had no way out.^[5] He remains entombed in the USS Utah.^[6] At the time of his death, Rudy was engaged to a woman named Posey and was about to be married in a few weeks at Christmastime.^[3]

He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and other medals.^[7] His family later donated his medals, his final letter home, the telegraph informing them of his death, and other items to the USS Arizona Memorial Museum at Pearl Harbor, where they remain on permanent display.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ "California Birth Index, 1905-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGW7-7VD : 27 November 2014), Rodolfo Martinez, 01 Apr 1919; citing San Diego, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1930", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XC6J-B2D : Thu Oct 05 19:47:24 UTC 2023), Entry for Antonio P Perez and Emilia Perez, 1930.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Wilkens, John. "Remembering Rudy: At Memorial Day event, Barrio Logan honors Pearl Harbor casualty." San Diego Union-Tribune, The: Web Edition Articles (CA), May 31, 2021. NewsBank: America's News Magazines.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K98W-P9W : Fri Oct 06 16:45:14 UTC 2023), Entry for Amelia Perez and Anthony Perez, 1940.
5. ↑ 2 August 2011. "Rudy's Story." National Park Service. Accessed on 21 October 2023 via https://home.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=6932FAF1-1DD8-B71B-0BB84F824D014DE1.
6. ↑ USS Utah Memorial. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6467389/rudolph-m-martinez: accessed 22 October 2023), memorial page for EM3c Rudolph M. Martinez (1 Apr 1919–7 Dec 1941), Find a Grave Memorial ID 6467389, citing USS Utah Memorial, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA; Maintained by Doug B (contributor 102).
7. ↑ Honor States Orginations, (n.d.). "Rudolph Machado Martinez." Accessed 22 Oct 2023.

See also:

• 26 September 2014. "Rudy Martinez: The Beginning of the Latino Impact in World War II." National Archives Blog. Accessed on 21 October 2023 via https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2014/09/26/rudy-martinez-the-beginning-of-the-latino-impact-in-world-war-ii/.
• Honolulu Memorial. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56124480/rudolph-m-martinez: accessed 21 October 2023), memorial page for EM3 Rudolph M “Rudy” Martinez (1 Apr 1919–7 Dec 1941), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56124480, citing Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA; Maintained by ShaneO (contributor 47009366).
• Services Scheduled for War Victim: "Newspapers.com"
  The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Sat, Dec 20, 1941, page 21
  Newspapers Clip: 133870688 (accessed 22 October 2023)