Gary M. Martorella was born in New York, to Mr. and Mrs. Gary Martorella. He had two brothers, Bernard and Salvatore. The family later moved to Bayonne, NJ. His home of record is Bayonne, NJ. Gary attended St. Vincent’s School and was a 1965 graduate of Bayonne High School where he was active in sports.
Martorella enlisted in the US Marine Corps in December 1966, where he attained the rank of Lance Corporal (LCPL).
Martorella served in Vietnam for three months before being killed on May 31, 1968, in Quang Tri, South Vietnam, while serving as a machine gunner with the 3rd Marine Division.
Martorella received a citation from Nguyen Van Thieu, president of South Vietnam, awarding the Military Merit Medal and Gallantry Cross with Palm. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, NJ.
Sources: Newspaper clippings and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024