Island Icon "The Connoisseur" Vice Admiral Edward H. Martin

Spring 2002:

“This is one of my favorite appetizers. In the sauce pan is cracked pepper, a little salt, and freshly ground nutmeg.” He grinds it by hand in a nutmeg grinder.

“Next, I add butter and let it dissolve and melt in there.” Ed Martin is a serious cook, a true gastronome. “Now, I crack the eggs, one at a time. They must be at room temperature… Making gougres—pronounced goo-zhair—is a little touchy, so you must stay right with them every moment. You can only use a wooden spoon—it won’t work with a metal one.” He mixes the dough until it is the texture of silk. “This is how you want it. Smooth and silky. They are rolled into little dough balls and baked for ten to fifteen minutes until they’re golden brown and good lookin’!” He likes to eat them hot, washed down liberally with fine champagne.

Ed is a proud and colorful man—with dancing blue eyes, a plume-like posture, and a cadence in his voice that is both lilting and commanding. His garden is replete with roses, bougainvillea, kona coffee tree plants, snow bushes, plumeria, fuchsia, geraniums, and peppers. Ah yes, the peppers. Bright orange habanero peppers that he uses to concoct his notorious, fiery pepper juice that marinates in the refrigerator for more than three months before being served. It gives his favorite foods that extra punch. Everyone knows they’re in for a culinary treat when they come to the Martins’ house.

Ed is juicy—he practically salivates just talking about his favorite things. He is proud of his accomplishments and finds the fun in everything he does. Perhaps his prison experience is just what fueled this passion for the finer things in life: good food, exotic travel, and fine furniture. He also doesn’t mind talking about his experience in Vietnam or his distinguished Navy career. He is frequently asked by local and national media to comment on events in the Middle East and issues involving terror- ism, naval strategy, and Vietnam.

Mrs. Sherry Martin and Vice Admiral Ed Martin Photography by Jamie Howren.

Even after spending nearly six years as a prisoner in North Vietnam, “I felt so strongly about our being in Vietnam that I would have volunteered to go back. Not many people would say that.” He’s right. This type of dedication is not born of blind faith, but rather a rare type of loyalty and optimism. Surprisingly, Ed says he never lost faith in his government. “I never got despondent. I was determined to defeat them.” He always expected to return to his home, his family, his career, and his happiness.

And his wife, Sherry, kept this hope alive back home. Sherry has provided the unwavering support, encouragement, and total devotion that has propelled his career and fed his self-confidence. It’s a traditional marriage—a solid, enduring one. She sustains him.

Ed has no regrets. “I contributed to the defense of our country in a particularly contentious time and continued to do so long after our release from North Vietnam. I’m an energetic, dynamic person who cares about people. I think those qualities, coupled with dedication and solid leadership skills, are what enabled me to make Admiral.”

Ed washes each dish immediately after using it. Not a simple task, given the complexity of his recipes and the detailed attention he pays to each ingredient. “I’m a clean-the-kitchen cook. I don’t like clutter.” What’s his favorite thing to cook? He flashes his famously heartfelt grin and rubs his belly. “Everything!”

(This profile is excerpted from the exhibit Open Doors: Vietnam Fifty Years of Freedom, © Jamie Howren and Taylor Baldwin Kiland, currently on display at the Coronado Historical Association, 1100 Orange Avenue. Vice Admiral Martin’s widow Sherry Martin lives in Coronado.)