Timothy L. Martin – Master Sergeant, United States Army

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Courtesy of Linda Martin Anderson:

I found your website while doing some research on my husband, Master Sergeant Timothy Lynn Martin, and would like to tell you how wonderful I think it is that you have done this. It is a great tribute to all of our fallen heroes.

However, there are a few mistakes in his bio that you may not be aware of.

My husband graduated from High School in 1974. He joined the Army December 31, 1974. He was a Ranger stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, until he was transferred to Special Forces at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, (where I met him). He became a Delta Force Commando in 1980, at which point we both moved to North Carolina. We spent 2 years in Okinawa (1989-1991), Japan and then returned to The Unit in 1991. He left for Somalia on August 27th, 1993. He was killed in action on October 3, 1993.

We have three daughters, Diana Lynn, Katherine Rose and Jessica Faye, who were 9, 7 and 4 years of age when their father died.

My husbands family in Indiana do not have any authority to speak of his life after he left Aurora. It is doubtful that much, if any, of it is credible.

My daughters and I have returned to Massachusetts to be near family.

From a contemporary press report:

October 6, 1993: AURORA, Indiana – Timothy L. Martin will be remembered in the town where he grew up as an Army hero who volunteered for dangerous duty in Somalia one year before he was to retire. The life of the 38-year-old Army master sergeant was one of determination to follow his dream of a military career, friends and family say.

“He was a hero. The military was his life and that’s what he wanted to do. He wanted to jump out of airplanes,” said Debbie Brunner, of Aurora, who become friends with Martin soon after his graduation from Aurora High School in 1974.

Martin, who last lived in Aurora 20 years ago, was a Special Forces instructor who died Sunday (October 3, 1993) along with 11 other U.S. soldiers in a clash with Somalians loyal to warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid.

After nearly 20 years in the service, Martin had already begun planning for civilian life when he was called to duty in Somalia. “He was going to retire next year,” said his cousin, Nancy Dovenbarger, who described his plans for a small business in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he was stationed at Fort Bragg.

Martin’s death has Aurora residents thinking hard about U.S. involvement in Somalia. “People were talking about it this morning at the restaurant,” said Mark Brunner as he worked the counter of Aurora’s downtown hardware store. “I think we should get out of there.”

Martin’s body was to arrive Thursday in Fayetteville, where he lived with his wife, Linda, and their 3 daughters, Diana Lynn, Katherine Rose and Jessica Faye Martin.ages 9, 7 and 4. Plans were being made for memorial services Friday at Fort Bragg, the family said.

Ms. Dovenbarger said he would be buried at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, DC. A Martin is survived by his wife, Linda, and three daughters, Diana, Sara and Jessica.

July 9, 1955-October 3, 1993.

MARTIN, TIMOTHY LYNN

Synopsis:

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Timothy Lynn Martin, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against hostile enemy forces while serving with the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, Task Force RANGER, Special Operations Command, during combat operations in Mogadishu, Somalia, on 3 and 4 October 1993.

Sergeant First Class Martin was mortally wounded as part of a convoy that became lost and was taken under fire. His gallantry in action was in keeping with the finest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Sergeant Martin is buried next to Sergeant James Casey Joyce, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia, who was killed at the same location and on the same date.

Arlington National Cemetery, Section 60, Grave 5790.

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