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<p><em>Paul Lawrence Martin Jr.</em>, second son to Paul Lawrence and Catherine Martin, was born at Fort Sill, OK. His father was an officer in the U.S. Army, so the military life was in his blood. After living in Oklahoma, Florida, Argentina, and Nebraska, he got a congressional appointment to West Point from A. J. Miller, 4th Congressional District Representative from Nebraska. Paul’s older brother, Charles, had gone to West Point earlier for two and half years but then switched to the Coast Guard. Paul’s younger brother, Robert, followed his footsteps to West Point and graduated in 1957. Robert’s daughter, Eileen (1982), son, Lawrence (1996), and grandson, John (2016), were also West Point graduates. It seems that the military and especially West Point runs in this family.</p>
<p>Paul was active in sports and other activities while at West Point. His sport activities included wrestling, Fencing Team manager, Ski Club, and Weightlifting Club. Other activities in which he participated included the Debate Club, Camera Club, the <em>Howitzer</em>, Pistol Club, Spanish Club, and Class Committee (year two). He also had some additional interests outside of West Point involving the Boy Scouts and the Methodist Youth Fellowship. He had some of his physical activities limited in his last term at West Point when he fractured his right ankle and was in a cast for six weeks.</p>
<p>Right after graduation, Paul married Marlene Goodwin, a resident of Newburgh, NY and an employee of West Point. He then went into the Air Force and went off for more training. Paul received his Pilot Wings and was first stationed in Texas, where his daughter was born. His next stop was to Keesler AFB, MS, where he was a flight commander, instructor pilot and flight examiner for a couple of years. His son was born there. Then Paul was off to get his master’s degree in engineering from Purdue. The next step was to Los Angeles and then to the Pentagon to start several assignments involving the space programs. After those assignments, the next one Paul had was off to Hawaii flying C-130s as an aerial recovery pilot. He then had to go to Thailand by way of Air Command and Staff College, still flying C-130s during the Vietnam war. His family came back to Newburgh, Stewart AFB, to stay near Marlene’s family. Paul then went back to the Pentagon again and on to the Air War College. This was followed by an accompanied assignment to Saudi Arabia as commander of a logistics group and Peace Hawk program manager. His final tour was back at the Pentagon, with the Defense Communications Agency. </p>
<p>He had always said one of his greatest accomplishments was when he had to go speak in front of Congress, during one of his first rounds at the Pentagon, and convince representatives to continue the “GPS” military project, which Congress wanted to eliminate. He got them to see military point of view and approve it! He liked working on that project. Where would we be now if not for that approval?</p>
<p>Paul was acknowledged for his excellent work and accomplishments by many awards and decorations, including the National Defense Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Good Conduct Award, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam campaign medal, Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Longevity Service Ribbon with five oak leaf clusters, Valorous Unit Award, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He also had about 6,000 hours of flight time, predominately as a pilot with the C-130. </p>
<p>While stationed in Alabama, he attended Auburn University and received his second master’s degree but this one was in business administration. When he retired from the Air Force, he had a second career as a Certified Financial Planner and really used this second formal degree. Paul eventually formed his own company in Virginia with several employees. He helped many people, family and friends learn to get financially successful. He also did some pro bono work for widowers.</p>
<p>After he retired in 1980, his daughter had finished her master’s degree in dental hygiene and got married, while his son, Jeff, resumed his education in computer engineering after serving in the 82nd ABN. His wife, Marlene, continued working for the CIA until 1985, when they moved to Florida. Paul said his second career as a financial planner was as challenging, fun-loving and emotionally rewarding as his military one. When he finally retired in 2001, all his family had moved to Florida. He then filled his time gardening, golfing, playing bridge, traveling overseas, and spending time with family. Paul had become known as the tomato man for giving away most of the tomatoes he grew.</p>
<p>He will be missed by family, coworkers, and friends alike. To say the least, he was always a hard worker, from flying to talking to Congress to growing tomatoes.</p>
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