Commanding Officer Biography
17 May 75 - 20 Oct 76
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Captain William R. Martin, U.S. NAVY (RET) Captain William R. Martin was born in Denver, Colorado. He attended Regis College, Denver and graduated from the University of Denver in 1951. He later graduated from the Defense Language Institute (Russian), the Naval Postgraduate School, the Naval War College (Command and Staff) and the National War College. He received a Master of Science Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. Assignments afloat included tours in the Amphibious Force and the Cruiser Destroyer Force, with duty aboard USS Frank Knox DDR- 742 (Weapons Officer); USS Cabildo LSD-16 (Operations Officer); as Flag Lieutenant, Cruiser Division One; and as Executive Officer of the USS Hoel DDG-13. He commanded USS Farragut DLG-6, USS William V. Pratt DLG-13, and USS Little Rock CLG 4. Assignments ashore included two tours in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (Office of Naval Intelligence and Strategic Plans Division). He served twice in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration, and Office of the Assistant Secretary for International Security Affairs). Captain Martin was Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Performance and Security, and Governor, US Naval Home, Gulfport, MS. He retired in 1983. Captain Martin's decorations include the China Service Medal. Korean Service Medal (two stars), Korean Presidential Citation, UN Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Gold Stars second, third, and fourth awards; the Joint Service Commendation Medal; the Navy Unit Citation; and various other theater and foreign decorations and citations. Captain Martin and his wife, Joyce, reside at River Hills Plantation, Lake Wylie, SC. Their combined families include 6 children and 12 grandchildren. Captain William R. Martin's Obituary
CAPT William Raymond Martin, USN (Ret.) passed away on Thursday, August 31, 2017. A native of Denver, Colorado, CAPT Martin was the son of the late Hugh Martin and Claire Connell Martin. A graduate of the University of Denver and the National War College, he was commissioned in 1951 and retired in 1983 having commanded USS Farragut (DLG-6), USS William V Pratt (DLG-13) and USS Little Rock CG 4 Ashore, he served in a variety of positions on the Navy Staff (OPNAV), the Joint Staff (JCS), the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and as Executive Assistant to the United States Representative to the NATO Military Committee. He attended the Russian Language School and was an interpreter for NATO, serving in Geneva and Moscow. Also he was the last Captain of the USS Little Rock CG 4 which was the flag ship of the 6th Fleet and is now in a museum in Buffalo, NY. His final assignment was as Commander "Governor" of the United States Naval Home in Gulfport, MS. CAPT Martin is survived by his wife, Joyce B. Martin; his son, CAPT Michael L. Martin, USN (Ret.) (Theodosia) of Box Elder, SD; his daughter Patricia C. Martin of Arlington, VA; two stepsons, Ernie Williams (Cathy) of Smyrna , GA, E. Cameron Williams of Dahlonega , GA, and two stepdaughters, Cheryl Dolan of Hilton Head, SC and Samantha Williams of Tryon, NC. Also surviving are twelve grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. A Catholic Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Tryon, NC on Tuesday, September 5, 2017. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens, Columbus, NC with military rites conducted by the Polk County Veterans Memorial Honor Guard. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00p.m Monday evening at McFarland Funeral Chapel in Tryon, NC with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to:
Hospice of the
Carolina Foothills, P.O. Box
336, Forest City, NC 28043 An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com (Obituary was originally posted on Little Rock website 04 Sep 2017.) |