VICE ADMIRAL EDWARD H. MARTIN
Celebrated Naval Career, POW, Family Man
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CORONADO “Ed is a proud and colorful man with dancing blue eyes, a plume-like posture, and a cadence in his voice that is both lilting and commanding.” This is how author Taylor Baldwin Kiland described Ed Martin in her book with Jamie Howren, “Open Doors: Vietnam POWs 30 Years Later” (2005).
She captured the essence of this Southern gentleman while watching him cook in his Coronado kitchen. For Ed Martin was, in addition to his incredible military career and dedication to country, a family man who loved nothing more than being with loved ones, at home, creating something over the kitchen stove.
That southern smile worked for Ed Martin even at the age of two.
The rest of the world knew Ed Martin as a highly decorated Navy veteran with a Southern accent and wry sense of humor – the man who had survived more than 2,000 days in captivity during the Vietnam War and lived to talk about it; to learn from it.
Vice Admiral Edward H. Martin died Tuesday, December 23, of complications from a head injury. He was 83.
Midshipman, third class, Edward H. Martin, stands lookout watch on the bridge of the USS Wisconsin. He was one of 800 Naval Academy and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps midshipmen receiving “on-the-job” training aboard the battleship Wisconsin. The two-month cruise was designed to provide actual shipboard experience for the young men. The Wisconsin visited ports of Edinburgh and Lisbon before proceeding to Guantanamo Bay, where intensive gunnery exercises were conducted.
Edward Holmes Martin was born September 30, 1931, in Savannah, Georgia, to DeCourcey Martin and Caroline White (Holmes) Martin. His father was a construction inspector at a local military airfield, and became a pioneer in the shipping of frozen foods. Ed Martin was a distant cousin to General George Patton and was also a distant relation to Paul Revere.
Ed was the youngest of three children. He attended the public school system and Armstrong College as well as the University of Georgia Off-Campus Division in Savannah. In 1950 he received an appointment to, and entered the U.S. Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1954.
This shot was taken in 1962/63 as Admiral’s Aid. Martin would serve three different admirals in this capacity.
Immediately following graduation from Annapolis, he entered flight training in Pensacola, Florida and later Kingsville, Texas. From the fall of 1955 until 1959 he served in various carrier-based squadrons operating out of San Diego.
From 1959 until 1962 Cdr. Martin was an instructor in the light jet Attack Replacement Squadron, first at Miramar, then Lemoore Naval Air Station in California’s San Joaquin Valley.
Above, the glorious homecoming of 1973. From left, Michelle, Sherry, Ed, Beau and Peter. Below is a family portrait from 2012, on the front porch of their Coronado home. From left are Michelle, Sherry, Ed and son-in-law Rick. Ed always signed cards to his daughter with, “Love you, GOD (Good Ole Dad).”
Subsequent to this he served a tour on the staff of Commander Carrier Division Seven. In July 1964 he reported to Newport, Rhode Island to attend the U.S. Naval War College. He also holds a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University.
In July 1965 he reported to Attack Squadron 34, home ported in Jacksonville, Florida, where he served as operations officer and executive officer. While leading a flight of A4 Skyhawks from the carrier Intrepid on July 9, 1967, Cdr. Martin was approaching his target just southeast of Hanoi when he encountered multiple surface-to-air missiles. His aircraft was hit and burst into flames. He ejected safely but was captured immediately upon landing.
Ed and Sherry in Caribinari (above), framed by the elite National Italian Guard, Gaeta, Italy. The photo below finds them in Rabat, Morocco, November 1984. Ed and Sherry are special guests of the Moroccan Embassy.
Commander Martin spent his first year of captivity in solitary confinement. During captivity both his shoulders were broken during rope torture. He was confined in both leg and wrist irons. His captors subjected him to regular beatings.
Finally he was thrown into a cell 78 inches long and 60 inches wide with four other men, sleeping on concrete. For the next five years and eight months he was held captive in the immediate Hanoi area, infamously known as the Hanoi Hilton, from which he was repatriated on March 4, 1973. Among his cell mates during that horrific time of captivity were James Stockdale and John McCain.
On their way to Italy, Sherry and Ed stopped long enough to pose for this handsome photograph.
After hospitalization, he went through the National War College in Washington, D.C. and then served as executive assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare from June 1974 to August 1975. He went through a series of training, schools and commands before becoming Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga.
He served as Chief of Current Operations for the Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Pacific Command from July 1979 to November 1980, and was then promoted to Flag Rank and became Chief of Naval Air training, where he served until January 1982.
Above, as a special favor to his friend Admiral Ed Martin, comedian Bob Hope not only agreed to attend the 75th Anniversary of Naval Aviation, he brought his entire USO Tour for a special Christmas show featuring Sammy Davis Jr., Brooke Shields, Jonathan Winters and Elizabeth Taylor. Below, all the hard work and preparation behind them, Sherry and Ed settle in for some outrageous comedy courtesy of Jonathan Winters, and his iconic line, “Always leave em laughing.”
He subsequently commanded various carrier groups and task forces until May 1983, at which time he served as Commander of the United States Sixth Fleet. His final assignment was as United States Commander, Eastern Atlantic, and the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Naval Forces Europe, where he served from January 1987 until his retirement from the Navy on June 25, 1989. Upon his retirement, Adm. Martin had logged 3,350 flight hours and 375 fixed wing carrier landings.
In civilian life Adm. Martin became director of European business development for the Xerox Corp. He founded E.H. Martin Associates and E.H. Martin Investments LP in 2000 to develop and manage small private properties, assets and investments.
Above, Ed’s favorite playground was his own backyard, cooking over a hot grill. This photo was taken by Jamie Howren for the book, “Open Doors: Vietnam POWs Thirty Years Later,” by Howren and Taylor Baldwin Kiland. Below, Ed’s 75th birthday. A catalog-aholic, Ed was a sharp dresser and had a fine eye for the latest in men’s fashion.
He continued to serve on the boards of several financial-related corporations and numerous civic and educational pro bono boards of trustees, including the San Diego Maritime Museum, the San Diego Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, the U.S. Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, the USS Intrepid Museum, and others. He is a former member of the board of advisors for the National Aeronautics and Space Museum as a presidential appointee.
Admiral Martin was also a long-time member of Coronado Rotary, and regularly attended their Wednesday meetings and supported their causes, both in the community and on a global level. He also served on the boards of the Coronado Round Table, Coronado First Bank, Mount Soledad Board, QED, MILMAC, USN Association and the US Naval Academy Foundation.
Sherry and Ed. Always, Ed’s response to “How are you today?” was, “All the better for seeing you.”
He supported the Coronado Hospital Foundation, Christ Episcopal Church in Coronado and Lambs Players Theatre. He had served as Grand Marshal for the San Diego Holiday Bowl in recent years, and was an honorary member of The Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Georgia.
Their last major trip together a cruise from San Francisco, south, through the Canal and up the Eastern Seaboard to New York. Ed and Sherry are seen here toasting a successful adventure together on the plane home.
Among the awards and distinctions earned by Admiral Martin were: two Distinguished Service Medals, Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legions of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, two Air Medals, POW Medal and the National Order du Merite (France).
No, Ed wasn’t on loan from the US Navy to the Texas Rangers, but this long rider sits tall in the saddle at Monument Valley, scene of many familiar collaborations between John Ford and John Wayne.
Survivors include his wife Sharron H. “Sherry” Martin of Coronado, Michelle Martin and son-in-law Rick Everman of Capistrano Beach and Peter Martin of Miami. A third child, Beau Martin, predeceased his father in death.
Southern gentleman, patriot, warrior, family man, and survivor: From Savannah to Coronado, and around the world in between, this is the Ed Martin we all knew and loved.
Services for Vice Admiral Martin will be held at the Coronado Christ Episcopal Church, Saturday, January 10 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made “In Memory of Vice Admiral Edward H. Martin” United States Naval Academy Foundation (Athletics & Scholarships programs), 25 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401. (410) 295-4095.
During the Vietnam War bracelets like this were distributed to Americans across the country for every POW and MIA and worn proudly to show our support for finding them and bringing them home. Photo by Joe Ditler.
This sound byte of Admiral Ed Martin describing flying above the clouds and the precision required to operate a Navy fighter jet is courtesy of David Butler, Director/Producer of “Wings of Gold,” a documentary about the history of North Island Naval Air Station. The documentary was produced through local funding and the support of the Coronado Museum of History & Art.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WxW1mnoXT0&feature=youtu.be
For more information on the delicate process of final tributes such as this,
call or write Coronado Storytellers, (619) 435-0767; [email protected].
