Manuel “Mac” Martinez

Corporal Tech 5, U.S. Army
1944 – 1946, WW II
Resident, Belmont Village San Jose, CA

“I was a 776 radio operator with field artillery and transportation corps – American and European theaters. My wire was rolled in a Jeep and as the Lieutenant looked through his binoculars, he telephoned to relay codes: ‘5-zero-above’ and ‘Fire’. They didn’t always hit, so we made corrections. I got on and off the radio quickly as enemy rangefinders could locate us. When cannons and howitzers hit enemy targets, the order ‘Now fire for effect’ meant shoot to blow up.”