Page 15
Ohio Valley Military Society
2014
Show of Shows
James H. “Pee Wee” Martin
joined the now famous 506th PIR at Camp Toccoa, GA, in July 1942. He was
soon given the nickname “Pee Wee” due to being the lightest man in the regiment. He accepted the moniker
with a badge of respect. After completing their initial training at Camp Toccoa, the 506th moved to Ft. Ben-
ning, GA, for jump training and then on to Camp Mackall, GA, for further training.
In anticipation of the coming invasion of Hitler’s “fortress europe,” the unit crossed the Atlantic on the HMS
Samaria. After arriving in England in September 1943, G Company was stationed in the town of Ramsbury
where they completed their pre-invasion training.
Jim Martin parachuted into Normandy, landing near Saint-Côme-du-Mont behind Utah Beach, at 00:12,
on June 6, 1944. “Pee Wee” Martin fought in the Normandy campaign for thirty-three days until the 101st
Airborne was relieved and returned to England in July.
On September 1 , 1 44, the 101st Airborne Division jumped into Holland in the leading wave of “Operation
Market Garden.” Jim Martin landed near the town of Son. G Company fought to secure “Hell’s Highway”
during this ill-fated operation. The 506th PIR was sent to Mourmelon, France, in November after more than
sixty days of fighting in Holland.
On December 16, 1944, Germany launched its last major offensive in the West, The Ardennes Offensive,
soon to be known as the “Battle of the Bulge.” Jim Martin and the 101st Airborne Division were trucked over
100
miles to the Belgium crossroads town of Bastogne. G Company and the 506th established defensive
positions at the edge of the Bois Jacques Woods. Jim Martin and his comrades endured bitter cold and
some of the most difficult fighting on the Western Front during their time defending Bastogne.
After participating in operations in Germany early in 1945, the 101st ended their war by occupying Adolph
Hitler’s mountain home in Berchtesgarden, in Bavaria, in April 1 45.
Being a “high points man,” Jim Martin shipped home out of Marseilles in September 1945. In early 1946,
Jim married Donna Vereka of Newtown, IA. They built their own home, had five children, and have lived on
the same fifty acres in Sugarcreek Township, Ohio, since 1946.
VETERAN GUESTS
NOTE:
A fee may be charged for some veteran autographs.
Autograph
Fred S. Lindsey
enlisted in the Army in 1 4 , attaining the rank of Corporal. He was accepted into and
graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point, in 1 54, and commissioned a Second Lieutenant
of Infantry. After Infantry School, he qualified as Master Parachutist and as a Ranger. He served in vari-
ous leadership and staff positions in the 11th Abn Div, the 82nd Abn Div, and the 101st Abn Div. In his first
Vietnam combat tour, he was MACV G-3 Air Liaison Officer for the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing and flew 50
backseat missions, primarily in F-100s. Then he went to 1st Brigade of 101st Abn Div as Asst Ops Officer
and then Ops and Exec Officer of the 2/327 Abn Inf Bn. On his second Vietnam tour, he was Cmdr of 2/8th
Cav Bn of 1st Cav Div. Next he was Deputy Cmdr of OP-35 in MACV-SOG and then was Cmdr of Command
and Control Detachment South (CCS) from January - July 1970. He is the last living Cmdr of CCS. His
advance schooling included the USMA Preparatory School, a Masters degree at Indiana University, and the
Command and General Staff College. He retired after 20 years from the Army in August 1972. His civilian
career positions included Exec VP of an architectural and engineering firm; and president of an “Alternative
Energy” firm building a Gasohol plant. He served for 12 years in the Indiana Department of Commerce as
Program Manager for High Technology Development. His military awards include two Legion of Merit, two
Bronze Stars, six Air Medals and the Combat Infantry Badge. Civilian awards are as a Kentucky Colonel
and a Sagamore of the Wabash. He is active in local service and veterans’ organizations in Carmel, IN,
where he has lived with his family for 3 years.
Autograph