Approximately twelve a.m. June Seventh, Nineteen Hundred and Thirty-three, a balmy summer night in the small agricultural community of Haskell, Oklahoma, the population was increased from 1200 to 1201 by the arrival of a first born son to Annie Lee and James Talmage Martin, Senior.  This was an exciting although anticipated event in the Martin household.

My father exerted an early influence on me. Like most small boys, my childhood ambition was to be like my dad.  He emanated such  a wonderful aura of unparallel strength.

My mother was strong willed, kind and tender with a desire to keep us on the right track at all times.

After monopolizing the scene for a year and a half, my beautiful little sister, Lahoma joined the family. She was quiet and doll-like, and brought a ray of sunshine into our home.

Jerry, my baby brother was born five years later.  He began to assert himself quite early, and demanded everyone's attention with his jokes, songs and dances.

At the age of six I began my education at Booker T. Washington School where I completed twelve years and graduated in nineteen hundred and fifty-one.

The years in school were uneventful except for a burning desire to complete my schooling and embark upon some kind of career. I began to consider the military service and soon after graduation I joined the Navy.

My first day in the Navy boot camp was an exciting, awakening and sometimes frightening experience. However, very soon I overcame the initial shock of a new but imposing environment. I settled into the routine of recruit training and the days passed rapidly by.

Some ten weeks later, I finished boot camp and departed on ten days of leave to visit my family.  Although I had been away for only three months, the reunion was very gratifying.

Returning from leave, I reported to my first duty station, Hospital Corps "A" School in San Diego, California.  This training involved an intensive five month course in basic medical procedures. My career then took me to the hospital in Corona, California for a year of duty, and subsequently to Inyokern, California.

The Mohave Desert, a broad expanse of sand and cactus, was the locale of Inyokern. The tour of duty was an interesting and unusual experience, because I had never been in the desert before.  The extreme change in temperature from day to night is noteworthy, as high as 120 degrees by day to 30 degrees at night.

This assignment was followed by orders to Field Medical Service School at Camp Pendleton, California.

Completing this training some four weeks later, I found myself aboard ship enroute to the Far East for duty with a marine unit. This was another series of first events for me, the first time aboard ship and the first visit to a foreign country.  The opportunity of foreign travel was enlightening, different people their cultures and unfamiliar sites.

This travel took me to Japan and then Hawaii where I was discharged in 1955.

Near the end of my service obligation, I thought seriously about attending college.  Selecting Grand Rapids Junior College, I began my studies in January 1956 and attended this school until December 1956.

The call of the sea again beckoned me and I returned to active duty the same month.

Navy assignments took me to the Naval Station, Boston, Massachusetts and Bethesda, Maryland, where I attended Optician School. I graduated June 1957 and received orders to the Naval Hospital, New Port, Rhode, Island.

Subsequent assignments included the Naval Hospital, Guam, Marianas Islands For Sea Duty, Naval Air Squadron, San Diego, California, Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois and Sea Bees, Vietnam.

Returning from Vietnam, I was ordered to Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity, Williamsburg, Virginia for duty as an instructor in Optician Technician School. Since my arrival here two and  half years ago, I have made numerous tours of historical Williamsburg and Jamestown. Visits to the Glass Factory, Pottery and Candle Shops were most interesting.

Other trips throughout Norfolk, Newport News and Hampton, Virginia inspired me to enroll and pursue a four year course in Business Administration at Hampton Institute September 1972, after my retirement from the U.S. Navy.

Survivors include, a sister, Lahoma Martin Fulsom, Haskell, OK; a brother, Jerry L. Martin, Los Angeles, CA, along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.

Visitation only for James "Doc Martin" Jr. will be observed, Monday, January 25, 2021 in the Precious Memories Chapel-House of Winn Funeral Home-Muskogee during the hours of 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.  Interment, Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 1:00 P.M. in Ft Gibson National cemetery with military honors provided by  American Legion Post 20.

No Flowers please, donations to Mr. Martin memory in care Cancer Research.

The family has been cared for by House of Winn Funeral Home-Muskogee.

MASKS MANDATORY AT ALL SERVICES