Staff Sergeant John W. Martin

Staff Sergeant John Johnny W. Martin US Army Airborne was a non-commissioned officer and one of the original 140 Toccoa men of Easy Company 506th parachute infantry regiment 101st airborne division. He was portraited by Dexter Fletcher In the TV Mini Series Band of Brother. Martin was born in Columbus, Ohio on May 12, 1922. He was a railroad worker for most of his early life. Martin enlisted in the Army at Columbus, and volunteered for the Paratroopers, eventually being assigned to Easy Company. John Martin married Pat Martin, Johns best man was and William “Wild Bill” Guarnere. Martin made his first combat jump into Normandy. He survived the campaign, but was shaken. When he got back from Normandy, Martin noticed that half of the first platoon was gone and he thought he might not survive the war, so when he got his leave to Scotland with Guarnere, they got his tattoos. Martin made the jump in Holland for Operation Market Garden. While Easy Company was taking a frontal assault in Nuenen, Martin spotted a German tank hiding in a hedgerow, waiting to attack the British tanks. Martin ran over to warn the tank, but its commander deferred the advice and the tank was destroyed moments later. Martin also fought in the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne. Martin continued to serve in the Army during Easy’s occupation of Germany and Austria. After Victory in Europe day,  during occupation Martin inform the medics that he had a trick knee, which incapacitated him for combat. He was discharged for medical reasons. After the war, Martin attended Ohio State University and returned to his railroad job upon graduation. He then moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he started his home construction business, building apartments. His business was successful and he became a millionaire. He retired, he split his time between Ohio, and a home in Arizona thereafter. Martin died on January 25, 2005 in Phoenix Arizona at the age of 82.