Martinez, David

David Martinez

Oct. 3, 2016

Martinez, David Milan, Michigan Age 81, passed away Oct. 3 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota to parents Clayton and Agustina Martinez and raised in Milan. He joined the Navy in 1955 and served for eleven years as a Corpsman with the Marines. He served his country with valor in Vietnam between 1967-68 as a Corpsman with the HMM-163 (Ridge Runners). He was in country at Quang Tri, Chu Lai, and served during the Tet offensive and the siege at Khe Sanh. As Corpsman who flew Medevac in Vietnam with the Marine Corps he was involved in two helicopter crashes. After one such assault, he woke with an injured back, yet he managed to crawl from a mine field and gave aid to the injured crew. He flew 268 missions and was awarded 13 air medals and two Purple Hearts. During another assault, he leapt from the copter ignoring concern for his own safety to rescue an injured Marine. He was once shot in the chest while giving aid to a fallen Marine but was spared by his bullet proof vest. During each battle or saving a soldier’s life as a Corpsman, he always said a prayer when he thought it was necessary. He retired as a Senior Chief, Hospital Corpsman in 1976 after 22 years of service. He then attended Eastern Michigan University where he received a bachelor’s degree in nursing (1983). He was active in the community sponsoring and competing in Softball and the Saline Bowling League and a die-hard Michigan football fan. He was honored to serve three terms as the President of the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 310. Proceeded in death by his parents Clayton and Agustina Martinez and infant brother Augustin. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sandra Martinez, three sons, Jim, Richard and Deborah (Rogers) and David Martinez. Three sisters, Helen Opp, Rose Caswell, Mary and Harry Randolph, nephew Carl Opp, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.