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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Martin J. Lenzini

Colonel LENZINI was born in Evanston, IL. He completed St. George High School in
Chicago, IL. and entered the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M., where he attained a
B. S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He also holds the Aeronautical Engineer's Degree in
Aero-Thermodynamics from the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, CA. (1968).

He was commissioned a Marine Second Lieutenant through the NROTC Program at the
University of New Mexico on June 6, 1961 and entered The Basic School, Quantico, VA.
Following The Basic School, he was ordered to flight training at NAS Pensacola, FL., and was
designated a Naval Aviator in May 1963. Ordered to Cherry Point, N. C., he served as Air
Intelligence Officer of Marine Attack Squadron 533, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 2nd Marine
Aircraft Wing.

In June 1965, Colonel LENZINI was selected to pursue an advanced degree at the Naval Post
Graduate School, Monterey, CA. He was promoted to Captain in September 1965. He
completed the Aeronautical Engineering curriculum in June 1968, was ordered to Marine Attack
Squadron 214, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing for two months refresher training in the A-4 Aircraft.

In September 1968, Colonel LENZINI was ordered to Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam and joined
Marine Attack Squadron 211, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, where he
served as Flight Officer and Assistant Operations Officer. He was promoted to Major in
December 1968. In March 1969, he was transferred to the Group Staff and served as the 3M
Analysis Officer. While in Vietnam, Colonel LENZINI flew 350 combat missions.

Colonel LENZ1NI returned to the United States in October 1969 and was ordered to the Flight Test Division, Naval Missile Center, Point Mugu, CA. He served as a project test pilot in the Attack Weapons Branch and was Project Officer for such projects as the WALLEYE, BULLDOG and SHRIKE missiles and the A-4M Guided Missile BIS.

In December 1972, Colonel LENZINI was ordered to Yuma, AZ. and served as Operations Officer of Marine Attack Training Squadron 102. In June 1973, he assumed command of Marine Attack Squadron 223, Marine Aircraft Group 33, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing. He commanded the squadron until June 1974, when he received orders to the 3d Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan, where he assumed the duty as Air Liaison Officer and later as Operations Officer of the 9th Marine Infantry Regiment.

Colonel LENZINI returned to the United States in July 1975, and reported to Newport, R.I., where he entered the Command and Staff course at the Naval War College. Completing the curriculum in June, 1976, he was ordered to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. to serve as Assistant for Close Air Support Weapons, Tactical Air, Surface, and Electronic Warfare Development Division. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in March, 1978.

In July 1979, Colonel LENZINI was ordered to Headquarters Marine Corps. He assumed duty as Assistant Program Development Officer, and later as Program Development Officer, Requirements and Programs Division. He served in this capacity until his assignment to the National War College, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C. in June, 1982. He was promoted to Colonel in May 1983 and graduated from the War College in June 1983. In July 1983, Colonel
LENZINI assumed duty as Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine
Aircraft Wing. He was transferred to HQMC in July 1984, where he assumed duty as Executive
Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Aviation and later as the Head of the Plans, Programs,
Budget and Joint Doctrine Branch of Marine Aviation at Headquarters Marine Corps (APP). Colonel LENZINI retired from the Marine Corps in October of 1987 and worked at Raytheon Missile Systems Company in Tucson, AZ. His assignments within Industry at Hughes Aircraft Company and Raytheon Missile Systems include Project Manager for missile EO and RF sensors, Program Manger for the multinational EUROMAV Program, Proposal Manager for the Hughes UK CASOM Program and Senior Program Manager for Maverick International Programs.

Colonel LENZINI's personal awards and decorations include 2 Legions of Merit, 4 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 24 Air Medals.

Colonel LENZ1NI and his wife, the former Alice Ann Ferris, live in Tucson, AZ. Colonel LENZINI has six grown children; Matthew and Michael who live in Chicago, IL; Joshua who lives in Stafford, VA; Medean who lives in Plantation, FL; Marla who lives in Huntsville, AL; and Nicholas who lives in Phoenix, AZ.

#1) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Martin J. Lenzini for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 211, Marine Aircraft Group Twelve, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 18 November 1968, Major Lenzini launched from the Chu Lai Air Base as Wingman in a flight of two A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned the mission of providing close air support for a United States Army platoon that was heavily engaged in combat with a North Vietnamese Army force in a mountainous area northwest of Tam Ky. Arriving over the designated area, he found that extremely adverse weather conditions would severely restrict visibility and his area of maneuverability among the partially obscured towering mountain peaks. Briefed by the Tactical Air Controller (Airborne), he was informed that the friendly unite was pinned down on a narrow ridgeline by intense hostile fire from a machine gun emplacement and supporting automatic weapons positions. Undaunted by the heavy volume of enemy fire directed against his aircraft and a restricted run-in heading which required him to establish a flight pattern perpendicular to the ridgeline, Major Lenzini fearlessly maneuvered his Skyhawk on repeated bombing runs and released all his ordnance upon the target with pinpoint accuracy. As a result of his devastating attacks, the North Vietnamese machine gun emplacement was destroyed, several enemy soldiers were killed, and the hostile force was routed, enabling the ground unit to continue to its mission. Major Lenzini's courage, superior airmanship and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in the accomplishment of the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
#2) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Martin J. Lenzini for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 211, Marine Aircraft Group Twelve, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 18 April 1969, Major Lenzini launched as Section Leader of a flight of two A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned the mission of providing close air support for a United States Army unit that had located an enemy stronghold and observed numerous hostile soldiers. Arriving over the designated area, Major Lenzini established an orbit over the target while another flight delivered its ordnance, and then led his wingman down through the broken cloud cover to observe the enemy positions and receive a situation briefing. After the hostile target was marked by the Tactical Air Controller (Airborne), Major Lenzini was informed that the friendly unit was approximately one hundred meters from the target and precise ordnance delivery of one bomb at a time would be necessary. Skillfully coordinating the attack with his wingman, he unhesitatingly launched the initial tactical run, releasing his first bomb upon the enemy position with pinpoint accuracy. Following the first successful run, the Tactical Air Controller (Airborne) moved the flight to within seventy-five meters of the friendly unit, and Major Lenzini then led his flight in two more bombing passes, during which he and his wingman dropped their ordnance directly on the hostile emplacements. Directed to drop 500 pound bombs at a greater distance from the friendly unit, Major Lenzini delivered his ordnance precisely as directed, enabling the friendly unit to subsequently overrun the area. As a result of his flight's devastating attack, the enemy sustained heavy casualties and twelve large structures were destroyed. Major Lenzini's courage, exceptional aeronautical ability and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
#3) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Martin J. Lenzini for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 211, Marine Aircraft Group Twelve, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the evening of 24 August 1969, Major Lenzini launched as Section Leader of a flight of two A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned the mission of destroying a large enemy defense complex approximately twenty-three miles south of Da Nang. Arriving over the designated area, he was briefed by the Tactical Air Controller (Airborne) and directed to attack a secondary target which consisted of two enemy .50 caliber machine gun emplacements connected by a trenchline ten meters long. Undaunted by approaching darkness and the extremely heavy volume of hostile automatic weapons fire directed at his aircraft from numerous enemy positions hidden in tree lines, Major Lenzini fearlessly maneuvered his Skyhawk on repeated bombing runs and delivered his ordnance upon the target with pinpoint accuracy. As a result of his flight's devastating attacks, the two enemy machine gun emplacements were destroyed, as were the hostile positions concealed in the tree lines. Major Lenzini's courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in the accomplishment of the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corp and of the United States Naval Service.
#4) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Martin J. Lenzini for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron Twelve, Marine Aircraft Group Twelve, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. Late on the afternoon of 28 June 1969, Major Lenzini launched as Flight Leader of a flight of two A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned the mission of attaching a North Vietnamese Army force observed moving in a ravine in the Que Son Mountains four miles southeast of An Hoa. Arriving over the designated area, he was informed by the Tactical Air Controller (Airborne) that enemy soldiers had moved into a deep ravine at an elevation of 1,000 feet in an area surrounded by mountain peaks and ridgelines which rose to a height of approximately 2,200 feet. Despite an overcast at 3,500 feet and intermittent rain showers which severely restricted visibility and his area of maneuverability over the hazardous mountains, Major Lenzini adopted a flight pattern which required that he pull off the target around the mountaintops, proceed down-wind without visual contact with the target, maneuver through a saddle in the ridgeline on a level run-in heading until over the ravine, and then dive down into the target area. Undaunted by approaching darkness and the extremely precarious flight conditions, he fearlessly executed three bombing runs and one strafing run and delivered all his ordnance upon the target with pinpoint accuracy, causing one large secondary explosion and killing forty North Vietnamese Army soldiers. Major Lenzini's courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in the accomplishment of the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corp and of the United States Naval Service.