01 Jun 2005 John Martin Jr and I grew up in the same neighborhood. He and I went through elementary school together in the same class up until the 6th grade. He was always a chubby fellow and all of his friends called him "Fat John" but he didn't care what you called him as long as you and he were having fun. When we were in elementary school we would talk about the Army and what we were going to do when when we joined up. Back in those days there was a prime-time TV show that would come on called COMBAT starring Vic Morrow. John and I would spend hours talking about the show that we just saw and how we would we would have handled the situations if we were on the show (smile). After elementary school we kinda went our separate ways. I got drafted in Nov 1967 and spent the next 30 years in the U.S. Army. I was home on leave and attended John's Funeral. John, I'll never forget you. Your Comrade in Arms.... Al Newman Master Sergeant, US Army (Retired)

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The photo above and the following text are taken from The Philadelphia Daily News, special supplement entitled 'SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY,' October 26, 1987: John Martin Jr. Clifford Street, North Philadelphia Martin played football and basketball at Benjamin Franklin High School before joining the Army in September 1966. The 18 year-old specialist four, a tank loader, was sent to Vietnam and assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Martin was killed southwest of Loc Ninh, Binh Long Province on January 6, 1968, when the tank on which he was riding was hit. He was survived by his parents, a brother and two sisters. The action so briefly described above cost the 2nd Squadron three men killed in action: CPL Jerry W. Wickam, Rockford, IL (F Troop) (Medal of Honor) PFC Troy C. Battles, Peoria, IL (H Troop) PFC John Martin, Philadelphia, PA (HQ Troop) PFC John Martin, Jr., is buried in Site 382, Section I, of the Philadelphia National Cemetery.

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