Martin was remembered in a ceremony at Joint Base Emendorf-Richardsonon Thursday afternoon.
He was a paratrooper from the 4th Brigade Combat Team. He died after a member of the Afghan Security Force, who was working with his unit, opened fire. Three other soldiers were wounded in that same attack in Koragay, Afghanistan.
At Martin’s memorial service at the Richardson Soldier’s Chapel, letters from his platoon members were read.
They wrote about how a big part of his paycheck went to his mother every month, because she was in bad health and needed the money.
They also talked about how they had personally experienced Martin’s caring nature.
One writer said he had the “biggest heart in the platoon.”
“He shows a lot of good characteristics that are actually really important in being a soldier,” said Staff Sgt. Josias Harboe. “So if you’re willing to sacrifice for the better of the good, you’re worth more than a hundred men that don’t.”
Harboe says he believes Martin’s desire to be of service to others isn’t something you acquire.
“I believe he had that in him. I think if he had taken that over to the nursing side, I think he would have been a tremendous nurse,” said Harboe.
Martin was raised in Northern Idaho and was a graduate of Lewiston High School. He was assigned as a cavalry scout to the 1st Squadron, 40th Calvary Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division.
Martin joined the Army in October 2009 and went through basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He arrived at JBER in March 2010.
Martin was deployed to Afghanistan last year in support of “Operation Enduring Freedom.”
