Last Veteran Of Band Of Brothers Dies At 101

Per WYSO, Martin (above, in 2020) and the rest of the 101st Airborne Division later became known as the "Toccoa Originals." The Dayton Daily News reports that they have also been referred to as the "Screaming Eagles." In June 1944, they parachuted into Normandy on D-Day. Martin also fought in the Battle of the Bulge, where he almost froze to death (via Dayton 24/7 Now). We Are The Mighty adds that he was involved in Operation Market Garden in Holland. According to the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum, the 101st Airborne Division liberated the Kaufering IV concentration camp. Furthermore, he also assisted in capturing Berghof, Hitler's home, in 1945.

Martin often spoke candidly about his time as a paratrooper. He stated, per Dayton 24/7 Now, "We were the first people, in fact, we went in, paratroopers went in the night before D-Day and we knew, we were told the likelihood of most of us not coming back we still went and I'm glad I did."

Military states that the 101st was set to return to the United States before deploying to Japan. However, Japan surrendered before this could happen. For his military service, Martin earned a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star medal for heroism (We Are the Mighty says "several Bronze Star medals"), and the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal (via the Dayton Daily News).

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