Edgar Laverne Marts, Jr. – Master Sergeant, United States Marine Corps

Courtesy of Delija Marts: April 2007

Private Marts first entered Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego for training on 20 July 1982.  Upon completion of recruit training Private First Class Marts was transferred to Marine Corps Engineer School at Court House Bay, Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. After completing Basic Combat Engineer School, PFC Marts was transferred to Okinawa, Japan for duty with 9th Engineer Support Battalion. First serving with Alpha Company, where he was promoted to Lance Corporal and then going to Bridge Company during a Battalion restructuring. He spent the better part of two years with Bridge Company and received a meritorious promotion to Corporal before leaving with W95 orders in May of 1986.

On 27 July 1987, upon reentering the Marine Corps, he had orders to Red Stone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama, for chemical/biological training. From there it was off to Indianhead, Maryland, for a period of security hold and then the remainder of the six months of training. During his hiatus from the Marine Corps and the year to get through school he married to the former Ms Delija D. Stancu.

On July 12th 1988 he graduated and was shipped off to 8th ESB 2D FSSG for Duty. During this time he was deployed to Puerto Rico and did a FIREX on the island of Vieques with 10th Marines. He was also promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

In the year of 1990 Sergeant Marts received orders to Okinawa, Japan, where he participated in Exercise Team Spirit in South Korean.

Upon reenlisting in Okinawa he received a duty station preference and was ordered to MCAS Yuma. With the exception of another unaccompanied tour in 94-95 to Okinawa, he stayed at this duty station until July 2000. He was promoted to both Staff Sergeant and Gunnery Sergeant while stationed at MCAS Yuma. During his time he was with both MALS – 13 and H&HS, where he filled the billets of Supply Chief and Operations Chief.

On 11 August 2000, Gunnery Sergeant Marts was ordered to CG 2D FSSG for duty. During this tour he finished first in his class at the Advanced SNCO Academy in December of 2000. In Jan 2001 he requested to go to MSSG 26 as part of the EOD team. This was the first deployment to leave after the 9-11 terrorist bombings.

Upon returning back to 8th ESB, EOD Platoon in June of 2002 MSgt Marts assumed the duties as the Operations Chief.

Master Sergeant Marts retired on 14 January of 2005 with 22 years of honorable service. His personal decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (with one silver service star and with one bronze service star) Combat Action Ribbon (Afghanistan), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one Gold Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (Pakistan/Afghanistan), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Korean Defense Service medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Afghanistan), Navy Sea Service Deployment with one Silver Service Star, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Navy Unit commendation with two Bronze Service Stars.

Master Sergeant Marts died on 29 November 2005 and was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.

MARTS, EDGAR LAVERNE JR
MSGT   US MARINE CORPS

• DATE OF BIRTH: 07/16/1964
• DATE OF DEATH: 11/29/2005
• BURIED AT: SECTION 8-K  ROW 1  SITE 5
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard