Jim “Pee Wee” Martin 506th PIR 3rd Bat. G-Co

Jim “Pee Wee” Martin 506th PIR 3rd Bat. G-Co is born on April the 29nd 1921.

101st Airborne Division – 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment – 3rd Battalion / G Company D-Day / Market Garden / Bastogne / Berchtesgaden – 1942 – 1945



Martin was part of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division that parachuted down over Utah Beach in their bid to retake France and, eventually, the rest of Europe from Nazi Germany. They actually touched down in enemy-controlled territory a night before what's referred to as D-Day.

In 1942, Jim “Pee Wee” Martin enlisted in the Army when he was 20 years old, soon after World War II started. Like much of the nation, he was hesitant about the war after the experience of World War I two decades earlier, but he was motivated to join as he felt that America needed to assist the European allies. He quit his job in manufacturing and enlisted in the Navy to work in submarines. However, he did not want to wait six months to start his service, so instead he joined the Army as a paratrooper.

Upon joining the Army, Martin went to Camp Toccoa, Georgia, to train with the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. There, he received the nickname “Pee Wee” for his relative smallness compared to the other soldiers. After training from July to December 1942, Martin went to England to prepare for the Allied invasion of German-occupied France.

 

The Cunard liner Samaria took us to England in September, 1943. Some of the guys ate horse meat while on board.


On June 6, 1944, Martin and the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment joined the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France. His unit cut off German forces from two bridges used to deliver reinforcements.

In September 1945, Martin fought in Operation Market Garden, where the 101st Airborne captured German bridges to allow the Allies to invade the German-occupied Netherlands. They captured all but one of the bridges.



Soon afterward, the 101st Airborne Division planned to return stateside to prepare for deployment to the Pacific Theater. However, in the early hours of Dec. 16, 1944, the men were roused to  prepare for the Battle of the Bulge. From December into January 1945, Allied forces defended against a German offensive in Belgium, Luxembourg and western Germany. Martin went to Bastogne, Belgium, where the Army stood against a German siege into January.

Martin discharged in September 1945 with the rank of private first class.

 

 

Some Impressons whe we met Jim "Pee Wee" Martin in the past with our club.

 

Special Note is that Jim "Pee Wee" martin Running Currahee Mt. at age 89!!!! see photo ...