Chief Warrant Officer-3 John S. Martin, Jr. was born in Logansport, Indiana, in February, 1928. He moved with parents, John and Verda, and brother Geary to Chicago, Illinois, and then to Erlanger, Kentucky, in 1937.  

John was a member of the Boy Scouts of America Troop 1 in Florence, Kentucky, and after earning the rank of Eagle Scout, he was selected to go to Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico to help develop trails and campsites. He graduated from Lloyd Memorial High School in 1945 and then attended University of Cincinnati.  

In February, 1946, when John turned 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Army while still a student at UC. He served 23 years in the Army, most of which was in the Army Reserves. John achieved the rank of Master Sergeant and then was promoted to Warrant Officer in the Army Corps of Engineers. He retired as Chief Warrant Officer-3 in 1968. John married Alma (nee Martin) in 1951, and they continued to live in Erlanger with their five children.  

John was a residential and commercial contractor/builder in Kenton and Boone Counties. He was an active leader in Boy Scouts and the Rotary Club of Erlanger (now Kenton County) until his death in 1995.

Provided by Jana Martin Kemp, daughter