Don Martin was born on December 17, 1944, in Gary, Indiana. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in October 1962, and left active duty and joined the Marine Corps Reserve in May 1963. Pvt Martin received an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps Reserve and enlisted in the U.S. Army on January 6, 1964, serving as a combat engineer with the 173rd Engineer Company of the 173rd Airborne Brigade on Okinawa, from January 1964 to May 1965. He then deployed with the 173rd Engineer Company to South Vietnam from May 1965 to January 1966, followed by service as a gunner with Company A, 82nd Aviation Battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in South Vietnam from January to March 1966. SP4 Martin attended Microwave Radio Repairman School at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, from May 1966 to May 1967, and then Infantry Officer Candidate School from May 1967 until he left the school in December 1967. His next assignment was as a combat engineer with Company A, 326th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division deployed to South Vietnam from December 1967 until he was captured and taken as a Prisoner of War on March 2, 1968. After spending 44 days in captivity, SP5 Martin managed to escape from his captors and make his way back to friendly forces. He rejoined Company A of the 326th Engineer Battalion in South Vietnam, and completed his tour in December 1968. His next assignment was as a tractor operator with the 618th Engineer Company of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from March to May 1969, followed by service as a combat engineer with the 596th Engineer Company, also in the 82nd at Fort Bragg from May 1969 to December 1970. He served as Assistant Squad Leader with Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion of the 504th Infantry Regiment at Fort Bragg from January to April 1971, and then as a clerk with Headquarters Company of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg from April to October 1971. He served briefly with the 307th Engineer Battalion and then the 801st Military Intelligence Detachment at Fort Bragg from October to December 1971, followed by service as an admin specialist with the U.S. Army Institute for Military Assistance at Fort Bragg from December 1971 to July 1972. Sgt Martin attended Cambodian Language training at Fort Myer, Virginia, from August to December 1972, and he then served as a personnel management specialist with the 258th Personnel Services Company on Okinawa from December 1972 to July 1973. His next assignment was as an admin supervisor and operations sergeant with the 1st Civil Affairs Battalion on Okinawa from July 1973 to June 1974, followed by service as an operations sergeant with Headquarters Company of the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, from July 1974 until he left active duty and joined the California Army National Guard on March 15, 1975. MSG Martin served as a combat engineer, platoon sergeant, and construction foreman with the 132nd Engineer Battalion of the California Army National Guard in Yuba City and Sacramento from March 1975 until his retirement on August 15, 2000, having served on active duty during this time from September 27, 1994, to December 7, 1995. Don Martin died on August 24, 2014, and was buried at Memory Lane Memorial Cemetery in Schererville, Indiana.