My brother, Tom

First Lieutenant Thomas Martin died during combat operations October 14, 2007, while serving his country in Iraq.

Tom was born October 10, 1980, in Huron, South Dakota. He left South Dakota as a very young boy, went to school for a short time in San Marcos, Texas, and then graduated from high school in Cabot, Arkansas in 1998. That same year he enlisted in the United States Army completing Basic Training and AIT as a Field Artilleryman at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In 2000, after an assignment to Camp Stanley in Korea, Tom was accepted for admission to the United States Military Academy. After attending the United States Military Preparatory School, Tom entered West Point in the fall of 2001. As a West Point Cadet, Tom started on the Rugby team, was a member of the Military Tactics Team, and earned his Parachutist Badge by graduating from Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia.  Tom majored in Military Science and graduated with his class in May 2005. He was commissioned as an Armor Officer and completed the Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Tom volunteered for Ranger School and graduated earning his Ranger tab in May 2006. He reported to the 1^st Squadron, 40^th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Richardson, Alaska in June 2006. Upon arrival, Tom was assigned as the Sniper Platoon Leader in Crusader Troop and deployed with the unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in October 2006.

1LT Martin was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart Medal posthumously. His previous awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Army Overseas Ribbon w/numeral 2, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab.

As a youth, Tom was active in his church, community, 4-H, high school band, theater, the Boy Scouts of America, and attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

First Lieutenant Martin was interred in West Point National Cemetery, West Point, New York.

Tom was preceded in death by grandmother, Ruth E. Cain of Sioux Falls, SD and grandfather, Edmund T. Martin of Huron, SD. He is survived by his parents, Edmund and Candis Martin of San Antonio, TX; sisters, Sarah (husband Jeff) Hood and Becky Martin, all of Fayetteville, AR; and Laura Martin of San Antonio, TX; his fiancée, 1LT Erika Noyes, and grandmother, E. Jean Martin, of Huron, SD. 

He will forever be remembered as a man with undaunted determination who was fiercely dedicated to his men, his mission, and his country.

Tom Martin will never be forgotten.

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14 October 2007 changed all of us. Forever. But we've kept spreading the word of Tom's life and dreams and character. There are stories and photos of him circling the world - in the hands of those who knew him and even some who did not. But Tom's family and friends believe that it's never going to be too late to learn from Tom's story.

A few ways to learn more about Tom:

• Tom kept a blog of his experiences while at West Point and the years and memories since then, including Ranger School and a deployment to Iraq. Tom's original blog is still live at www.tommym1080.com
• In the winter of 2009, Tom's family discovered a way to capture his journals in a physical, tangible way - through Blurb.com. His entire online journal was pulled together in a beautiful book titled Green to Grey to Gold: this be me and is available in the bookstore at Blurb.com.
• Google "1LT Tom Martin" - you will find site after site of memorials, messages and stories - some from people who have merely stumbled across Tom's site while searching for things like Army Rugby, Ranger School and West Point.
• I've written memories of Tom several times within this blog. Entries about Tom are HERE.
• My personal album of favorite photos of Tom is HERE.

Memorials:

• Contributions may be forwarded to the 1LT Tom Martin Memorial Scholarship, Cabot Scholarship Foundation, Inc., 200 West Main Street, Cabot, Arkansas 72023. 
• Contributions may also be forwarded to the Returning Heroes Home, 1162 East Sonterra Boulevard, #210, San Antonio, TX 78258.

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When you remember me, it means that you have carried something of who I am with you, that I have left some mark of who I am on who you are. It means that you can summon me back to your mind even though countless years and miles may stand between us. It means that if we meet again, you will know me. It means that even after I die, you can still see my face and hear my voice and speak to me in your heart. For as long as you remember me, I am never entirely lost. -- Frederick Buechner

 

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If you have a memorial or a story to share, please leave a comment here. Every memory and every story shared makes Tom's smile last longer.

Comments

[Mom]

If I listen carefully, I can still hear that voice behind the smile. Something I never want to forget.

[Aunt Janet]

His smile was wonderful...truthful, meaningful, sincere, beautiful... Altho I never tire of looking at pictures of him, I don't need them to remember that face & that smile. Love you, Tom. Miss you.

[1st Lt Charles P. Tenney]

Sarah,

God Bless your brother and your family. He did not die in vain.

[Amanda]

I love that I get to read your updates.
I think he had the biggest heart of anyone I've known. So thoughtful and kind with a precious gift for goofiness and aggravation. Just a big adventurous boy! Fall always brings back sweet memories. He just felt like someone I'd known forever and would always know. Like part of my family. I'm so glad you and I have stayed in touch.

[Jana]

My three favorite Tom memories have to be:
* the time he got left at that mall on the church youth trip--still makes me crack up just thinking about it!
* when he was going to be the stunt double during "Beauty School Dropout" during Grease and repelled down from the catwalk--I thought Mrs. B was going to have a heart attack!
* when he and I were the only people who showed up to "chalk" the school homecoming week of our senior year. we had so much fun running around writing "seniors '98" on everything all while trying not to get caught!

[Elesix]

Way to go Sarah...your tribute is great.

[Diana Martin]

This tribute to Tom reminds me that freedom is not free. Tom's sacrafice has enabled us, despite the miles, to become closer as a family and more grateful as a nation. I know that I am very grateful to have my son with me and very proud of our family. I didn't have any military ties growing up. Now I have a new appreciation for what the military does to support our nation and not a day goes by when I don't look at Tom's photo in our kitchen to remind me of that. Love, Aunt Diana, Uncle Dan and Alex