My name is Gary L. Martin, son of Leopold J. Martin, now deceased who served during WWII as a 101st Airborne paratrooper.

My father was born in St. Quentin New Brunswick Canada. His father, my grandfather was a carpenter, painter and laborer. There were 10 siblings, 7 female and 3 male. Prior to being drafted, Dad worked as a shipyard worker in Portland, Maine. His older brother also served in the war as a paratrooper. Dad, like his brother pursued and joined the paratroopers.

His early days of training, was in 1943 at the jump school in Ft. Benning, Georgia. He served in the European Theatre campaign during WWII with the 101st Airborne Division. He jumped into Holland and fought in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944 and Rhineland, Austria.

Dad never spoke of his emotions or witnessing combat related casualties or destruction. He never talked about these subjects and only told us of “humorous” events. My father made friends during his service but did not pursue or continue them afterward, nor did he belong to any veteran organizations. Letters were the form of communications used to stay in touch with family and friends back home.

The 101st Airborne was in Austria when the war ended. Dad returned home by ship in December 1945 and began work in a shoe factory in Maine. He must have liked some aspects of Army life, as re-enlisted in 1949 and became 1st SGT for Supply Company, 5th Infantry Brigade Korea in 1953, winning his 2nd Bronze Star for Duty Above and beyond – “unfailing supply of ammunition to front lines”. Leo Martin would in no way let obstacles keep him from this duty to provide ammunition to men in battle. He learned this from his WWII action. It was unknown to us that he won a Bronze medal during WWII until looking threw all his military papers he had kept after his passing. He never told anyone in his family!

Dad’s greatest fear during his wartime experience was that his mother might receive a KIA (killed in action) letter. As far as him having any regrets for service, I don’t think so, as he re-enlisted. He believed in hard work, patriotism and doing things well. He was proud to have served. He hated the Vietnam protestors.

I recently finished the book, Comes A Soldier’s Whisper. I liked it and it brought back in my mind similarities between David Tharp, a 101st Airborne paratrooper featured in the book and my father. They were our heroes and fathers. Toward the end of this book, the author’s father mentioned his feelings toward the end of the war. My father felt the same way. They both miraculously survived a shell explosion and artillery barrage. How could they have not panicked every time they heard incoming shells? Needless to say, Dad never mentioned his “war feelings.”

Since Dad did not speak of his actual wartime experiences, I cannot say how the war affected him directly. Well, not until an incident when my father was in his 80’s when we were at the doctor’s office. He started crying to a nurse out of the blue about “all the dead babies”. As soon as I heard that, I figure it had to be about his war experience during WWII. He was placed in an assisted living facility in 2008 for his safety. Unlike most of the others there, he never needed a walker. I told Dad that the Director there was a Colonel. Well, that’s all it took! He totally respected and obeyed when the “Colonel” redirected him. He still understood the “chain of command” after all those years…

My father retired as a 1st Sgt. with the 82nd Airborne in 1966 with military benefits through age 86 until his passing in 2011. I am so grateful for the Army and proud to be the son of Leopold J. Martin.

~ Gary L. Martin
Proud son of a veteran
Knoxville, TN

COMES A SOLDIER’S WHISPER offers many thanks to Gary for sharing this beautiful story and tribute to his wonderful father, may he rest in peace.

Dedication Video youtu.be/EJ1H9N-gIU0
COMING SOON: Comes A Soldier’s Whisper VIETNAM & Beyond
www.comesasoldierswhisper.com

For those interested in sharing your story, e-mail Jennylas51@yahoo.com