Posted: Thu 2:24 PM, Aug 09, 2012
Funeral Home: Hillier Funeral Home
Colonel Samuel F. Martin U.S.M.C (Ret)
October 14, 1922 – August 8, 2012
Retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Samuel F. Martin, widower of Evelyn M. Martin, died on Wednesday, August 8, 2012. A time for family to receive friends will be on Friday, August 10, 2012 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Hillier Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Hillier Funeral Home is entrusted to his care.
Colonel Martin was a veteran of 30 years of service and three wars, he was Commanding Officer of MCAS, Beaufort (Fighter Town East) from 1970 – 1972.
He was born in Yakima, Washington to the late Fredrick Samuel and Emma Compin Martin. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942 and upon completion of flight training, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He saw action in the Solomon Islands of the South Pacific during World War II, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medals. For his actions in Korea, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal. In Vietnam, he served as both a Squadron Commanding Officer and as a Mar4ine Aircraft Group Commanding Officer. He received two Legion of Merits and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Other military decorations and awards include Navy Commendation medal, Presidential Unit Occupation Service Medal, China Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Citation and World War II, Korea, and Vietnam Campaign ribbons.
Colonel Martin was a graduate of Ellensburg High School, Ellensburg, WA. He received a Bachelor of Science degree and the Master of Arts degrees from the University of Maryland. He also completed the Advanced Management Program of the Graduate School of Business Administration at Harvard University. He was also a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School and the Command and Staff School at Quantico, VA., and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C.
After retiring, he joined the staff of the University of South Carolina at Beaufort. He also served as President of the Retired Officers Association, President of the South Carolina Coastal Seniors Golf Association, Vice President of the Western Seniors Golf Association, and was a member of numerous other professional and service organizations.
Surviving Colonel Martin is his sister, Jeanette Allen of Kelso, WA; son, Michael F. Martin of Lake Forrest, CA; daughter, Maggie McGuire and son-in-law John McGuire of Bryan, TX; grandsons, John and Shari McGuire of Moore, OK, Charles McGuire of Houston, TX and Mike and Tamara McGuire of Lindale, TX.
Memorials may be made to Brazos Valley Hospice, 502 W. 26th Street, Bryan, TX 77803 or to a charity of your choice.
Please share memories and tributes to Colonel Martin at www.hillierfuneralhome.com
