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GETTING TO KNOW YOU
Richard G Martin USAF 1971
Advanced jet training in the TA 4J Skyhawk aircraft
Veteran Rick Martin B
CAPT USNR July 2002 NAS Fort Worth, TX
Text by Keith Wallis
orn in Brockton, Massachusetts in 1953, Richard Martin was destined for a life in the U.S. Armed Forces. Having already had four uncles commit to military service, Rick had a clear vision of what his future would hold. He was proud to carry on the family tradition not only for himself, but also for his father, who was unable to serve due to a disqualifying medical condition. However, even though his vision was clear, his path to where he wanted to go and who he wanted to be would take a few unexpected turns along the way. Joining the Air Force in 1971, Rick was sent to Laredo, Texas as his first assignment. However, that post would be short 18
| Hot Springs LIFE & HOME | NOVEMBER 2019
lived. Laredo had a reputation of being a rather stagnant position, and that wasn’t what he wanted at all. Rick wanted to travel and see more of the world. So the first chance he got, he put in for a transfer and was off to the Philippines for a position in field maintenance. Once at his new post, he began working on F4 Fighters, performing mechanical maintenance and upgrades. He bounced between there and Taiwan for a couple of years, before returning to the states as a Staff Sergeant working on reconnaissance aircraft in Austin, Texas. After his enlistment was up in August of 1975, Rick went home to Massachusetts and enrolled in community college. He
spent a few semesters there, then transferred to the University of Texas upon the recommendation of a military buddy he served with in Austin. While there, he decided to re-enlist in an officers program. Unfortunately, at that time the Air Force was not accepting any business majors, so no doors seemed to be opening for Rick. However, he would not be deterred, and soon found himself at the NROTC, signing up for the Naval Reserves as a midshipman. The Navy was ready to make him a ship driver on the USS Benjamin Stoddard, but that appointment wasn’t what Rick had aspired his entire life to be. He loved airplanes. The dream of flying was what prompted him to join the Air
