Combat Wounded Marines Fund

2009 Recipient – Sergeant Martin Gonzalez

The 2009 recipient is Sergeant Martin “Marty” Gonzalez. Sergeant Gonzalez suffered a traumatic brain injury and was shot in his right elbow in Fallujah, Iraq. He is 29 years old, studying full time for his college degree and has two children.

Thanks to our donor contributions, we were able to donate $7,700.00 to Sergeant Gonzalez. The contributions relieved a significant amount of financial strain off of his shoulders.  This money allowed him to pay for certain expenses that are not covered by the GI Bill. Although the CWMF had already chosen Marty as the worthy recipient, an unexpected event only strengthened our belief that he was the right choice for this year.  He was able to catch up on mounting monthly bill and day care.  But of the upmost importance, he was able to handle the unexpected cost associated with his daughter’s kidney surgery. As a result, he did not have to worry about these mounting debts when confronted with yet another hardship.  Marty is extremely grateful to all of our donor contributions and sends his thanks.

Marty joined the Marine Corps at age 19.  He served as a Squad Leader for Third Battalion, Fifth Marines.  A squad consists of 13 Marines: One Squad Leader and three fire teams, each consisting of four Marines.  He was awarded two Bronze Stars, three Purple Hearts, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Letters of Appreciation, a Certificate of Commendation, a Certificate of Appreciation, and the Good Conduct Medal.   The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determined that Marty was 100% disabled and he was then medically discharged from the Marine Corps.  These disabilities derive from his traumatic brain injury, his gunshot wound to his elbow, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  After returning to Houston, Marty underwent 10 surgeries to his right arm, almost losing it.

Marty is now 29 years old and living in the Houston area. He inspired Judge Marc Carter, of the 228th Criminal District Court, to join up with state senator Rodney Ellis and Patrick F. McCann to establish the first veteran’s court in Texas. Patrick F. McCann is the former president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association.  This veteran’s court is specifically designed to pull military personnel with combat-related PTSD and other injuries out of the criminal justice system and into treatment.  I have summarized his actions that resulted in him being awarded two Bronze Stars and three Purple Hearts.  These illustrate the type of person he is and the sacrifices he has made in dedication to his brother’s in arms and this country.

First Bronze Star

At sunrise on 14 November 2004, during Operation Phantom Fury (2004 assault on Fallujah, Iraq) Sergeant Gonzales led his squad in clearing buildings of enemy insurgents.  At 1020am, his squad cleared the first deck of a building and moved to the second deck.  As the lead fireteam moved up the stars and made entry into the first room, a Marine was struck by enemy fire and fell into the doorway.  The other Marines opened fire into the room and pulled the wounded Marine to safety.  Sergeant Gonzales ran into the room and killed three insurgents at close range with his rifle and bayonet. A bayonet is a fighting knife attached to the end of a rifle for hand-to hand combat. Sergeant Gonzalez’s actions prevented further casualties and cleared the way for the expedient evacuation of the Marine who lay dying from gunshot wounds.

Second Bronze Star

On 12  December 2004, during Operation Iraqi Freedom II a group of insurgents on the second deck of a building opened fire on Sergeant Gonzalez’s squad as they attempted to clear up the stairs, killing one Marine. Sergeant Gonzalez fearlessly responded opening fire on the insurgents while simultaneously rallying three Marines to attempt recovery of the fallen Marine. The Marine lay in the upstairs room with the insurgents. At this time, Sergeant Gonzalez and his Marines did not know whether the Marine had been killed or not. During the next 15 minutes, Sergeant Gonzales boldly led 11 attempts up the stairs against a barrage of enemy small arms fire, grenades, and rocket propelled grenade fire. Two other Marines and Sergeant Gonzales were shot and critically wounded on the stairway. While under enemy fire and critically wounded, Sergeant Gonzalez evacuated the other two Marines to safety while directing another Marine to fire at the enemy.  Sergeant Gonzales’ squad and the insurgents were pinned down by each other.

During this firefight another squad of Marines was engaged with insurgents on the second deck of the adjacent building. Sergeant Gonzalez’s actions prevented the insurgents in his building from shooting at the Marines in the adjacent building, thus facilitating the destruction of the five insurgents in the adjacent building. The squad from the adjacent building moved onto the roof of Sergeant Gonzales’s building and began clearing down. Instead of waiting for the other squad to come to his aid, Sergeant Gonzalez took tactical advantage of the situation by leading another charge up the stairs, under enemy fire and critically wounded, thus placing the enemy in a dilemma.

The insurgents were stuck between Marines on the roof clearing down and Sergeant Gonzalez clearing up the stairway. Sergeant Gonzalez made it up the stairs and quickly entered the room containing the wounded Marine. An insurgent hiding in the closet opened fire on Sergeant Gonzalez at close range. Sergeant Gonzalez quickly returned fire killing the insurgent and recovered the body of his fallen comrade.  The firefight in the upstairs rooms continued and two more Marines were killed.  Sergeant Gonzalez critically wounded and under enemy fire, killed the remaining three insurgents.  After the threat was eliminated, Sergeant Gonzalez was immediately evacuated due to his serious wounds.