 Martin akakurira muCleveland, Ohio uye akapinda East Technical High School yeguta racho, kwaakanga ari kaputeni wechikwata chebhora uye chokushambira. Aitamba pakati muchikwata chebhora. Apedza kudzidza, Martin akabatana neU.S. Marines muHondo Yenyika II, uye akashanda muPacific War. Aive chikamu chechikwata chidiki muMarines Fifth Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion iyo yakasvika pachitsuwa cheTinian muna 1944 kuti iite ongororo yekutanga mukugadzirira kubatwa kwayo nemauto eAllied muHondo yeTinian. Vakapfeka chete zvipfeko zvokutuhwina zvitema, mapapiro okudhiraivha uye zvifukidziro zvomumeso, Martin neboka rake revarume vatatu vakawana nhevedzano yemigodhi yegungwa pedyo negungwa uko mauto eAllied akanga achigadzirira kumhara, achibetsera kutungamirira kupinda kunzvimbo dzakachengeteka dzokumhara. Akapiwa menduru yeBronze Star nokuda kwebasa rake muhondo. 