Distinguished Service Cross citation

On July 11, 1950, per General Orders No. 12,^[2] Martin was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the Korean War. His citation reads:

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Colonel (Infantry) Robert Reinhold Martin (ASN: 0-15953), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Colonel Martin distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Chonan, Korea, on 8 July 1950. Observing enemy tanks and infantry in force penetrated his regiment's forward position, Colonel Martin, with total disregard for his own personal safety, rushed forward to organize and personally led rocket launcher and grenade attacks against the tanks and infantry at ranges of ten to twenty yards. Despite heavy small-arms and tank gun fire, Colonel Martin, by his heroic example, so inspired his men that they destroyed several tanks and forced others to withdraw, thereby preventing the enemy from immediately overrunning the position. During this action Colonel Martin lost his life while single-handedly attacking an enemy tank with a rocket launcher at a range of about fifteen yards.