Veteran Rick Martin

Veteran Rick Martin

Text by Keith Wallis

Born 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-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 within 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 Force in the beginning, and he knew he wouldn’t be happy unless his career took him to the skies. Fortunately for him, his prior military service, combined with a fortuitous phone call by Lieutenant Vern Lochausen on his behalf, landed Rick in the flight program to become a pilot. Rick would train in Florida and Texas over the next few years, completing flight school and jet training. He would end up in California, where he would fly an S3 Viking as a Fleet Aviator, then serve on the USS Independence, and eventually obtain the rank of Captain in the Naval Reserves.

Once he got his wings, Rick would spend the next 28 years of his life in the skies. During his time in the Reserves, he would fly across the entire Atlantic Ocean, survey the Indian Ocean, and serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Meanwhile, in the private sector, Rick would embark on a 24-year career as a commercial pilot for American Airlines. He would retire from the Naval Reserves in 2007 and then from American Airlines in 2012, moving from Dallas to Hot Springs. Since arriving at his new Arkansas home, Rick has become very active in both the local VFW Post, as well as the Disabled American Veterans Association. Most days that is where you will find him, volunteering his time and continuing his legacy of service as a proud veteran helping other veterans in need. ∞