0liver H. Martin
38512700 Tech Sergeant
726th Bombardment Squadron, 451st Bomber Group, 15th Air Force United States Army Air Force
 1943-1945

      Oliver Holmes (Chick) Martin was born 7 September 1924 I in Wynne, Arkansas, the son of Cleo Emmett and Mamie Holmes Martin.   He had one brother, Raymond Cleo, and two sisters, Evelyn and Mildred.
    Oliver graduated from Wynne High School in May 1943 and entered the Army Air Force in June 1943.   He had his basic training in Wichita Falls, Texas and at Harlingen, Texas.   Oliver was assigned as the ball turret gunner on the B-24 Bomber "Three Feathers" and left the States from Topeka, Kansas for the European Theater.   He was stationed in Rome, Italy and flew 25 missions over Romania and Germany.   On three of his flights, the planes were shot down and on the "A Train" Bomber only two men of  his flying group returned.   His crew was scheduled on two other missions and due to illness Oliver did not go with them.    Both of these planes and their crews were shot down.
    Oliver was discharged in October 1945 after being hospitalized with pneumonia in the V.A. Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.   He received three Air Medals and the last one was bestowed on him 13 August 1944.
    Oliver returned to Wynne and married Mary Lempke and they had one son, Bobby Lynn, and a daughter, Carolyn.    He farmed and raised cattle.
    Oliver Holmes Martin died 27 December 1960 and was buried in the Cogbill Cemetery in Wynne.

                                                                        8 May 2002   /11/