No Man Left Behind; Gothic Serpent, 22 years
Editor’s Note: This is republished from 2008, but Operation Gothic Serpent was 22 years ago today. It’s lessons live on and we’re still waging a war that has it’s roots in that battle;
15 years ago today I lost a dear friend. Tim Martin and I showed up at the Reception Station in Fort Polk Louisiana – I won’t mention the year, the fact that they were still doing Basic and Infantry AIT at Ft Polk should be enough to narrow it down for you. He was a huge, quiet and friendly guy and I felt lucky that we were attached alphabetically through those 16 weeks. I can’t count the times that I’d stumbled and looked up to see his outstretched hand to help me up.
After those 16 weeks, it four weeks together at the Basic Airborne Course in Georgia then he went to the 2d Ranger Battalion at Lewis and I went to Fort Stewart (yes, the 1st Battalion was actually on Fort Stewart in those days). We went off in our separate directions for four years and we rarely saw each other, but each time we met, the conversation picked up right where it had left off the last time.
I’ve never met anyone who ever met him that had a bad word for him. He loved the Army, and later I learned he loved his family more.
I found out his final fate on October 18th, 1993 while I was leaving my last duty station as a retired soldier when I read the casualty list from what is now known as the “Blackhawk Down” fiasco and found his name.
I spent the next seven years trying to find out what happened to him. I became a member of the fine Paratrooper.net forum, run by my good friend Mark (back when Mark and I were the only participating members). As the forum grew, I put together bits and pieces of the story and some wonderful soul sent his wife Linda my way. She sent me pictures of him which I’ve put on my accompanying website as a memorial to Master Sergeant Tim “Griz” Martin.
The movie Blackhawk Down did a great job capturing his personality and immortalizing his love for his daughters.
Another friend at paratrooper.net, 509thTrooper, helped me get Tim a brick at the Ranger Memorial in Fort Benning. Then he went and took a picture of it for me.
I stop and visit with Tim at Arlington at least twice every year on Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day and every Christmas when I make my rounds there. And every day I give thanks for men like Tim Martin who are willing to put everything on the line for the rest of us. But today, especially, I save for Tim. And for Linda and their girls who sacrificed everything for us as well.
Category: We Remember
It’s always a tragedy when one of our brothers or sisters die, but when we lose one of the really special ones, it leaves a hole in our soul that never really heals.
Rest in peace, Master Sergeant Martin.
God Watch over MSG Martin and all those who sacrificed so much in that battle.
I’m sorry for the loss of your friend MSG. Martin. I haven’t seen the movie and won’t. My kids did and it’s a rule, I don’t want to know about any war movie you watch.
What makes him even more special is you pay your respects twice a year. Your one of a few who remember the men you fought with in your heart and mind. May Buddha bless him, his family and one hell of a friend
And Mogadishu was where a then 21 year old man saw death first hand as part of the additional forces sent after the battle from the 10th Mtn Division.
I landed at the airport on 5 Oct along with the rest of Task Force Triple Deuce, and spent the next 6 months of my life there.
It reminded me of just how good we have it in the US, and how thankful we should be, each and every day.
I’ve always heard that Mogadishu is a shithole deluxe. Being there must be like descending to the seventh circle of Hell.
There is a short video regarding the battle in which Martin fell. Half of the 3+ minute video talks about him and it ends with his pic. The soldiers who do the talking say that his wound was not as devastating as it was portrayed in the movie but that Martin, when he knew the end was near, gave a thumbs up. It’s on Youtube but, because of the pic that would appear here if I posted the link, I am not doing so. If you want to see the video, google “Col. Arsdale youtube.”
I was acting 8th Army assistant security manager at CP Oscar, Taegu, ROK, during exercise Ulchi Focus Lens 93 when we got the word about what had happened. Everything in the CP just stopped when the word arrived. Nobody said much, but I think we were all thinking and feeling the same thing. I am sorry for your loss.
I am also very sorry for your loss.
But our country is all the better that such men have lived.
The only thing harder than being a soldier, is loving one…
I joined just two months before this incident occurred. It was the significant issue of the day that I dealt with right before going to Basic Training. We talked about what happened in Mogadishu while I was in AIT as well.
At that, COL McKnight wrote a pretty good short book about his experience there. Even as slow as I read, I got through it fairly quickly. I bought it thru kindle.
“Streets of Mogadishu: Leadership at its Best, Political Correctness at its Worst!”
Rest in peace Patriot and may God Bless the Martin family.
I was half a world away when it happened myself. I can’t remember if we were at home station or at Ft. Bragg for exercises. A buddy of mine was in Fort Benning for PLDC when it happened, and she said that the Rangers were perturbed by the incident and the follow up; more so the latter I think.
And I’m heartened that you remember and in so doing help us remember.
CCO: No one is truly gone who is remembered. If you regularly stop here, you will see that Stolen Valor and Veterans issues are the top issues. A close third is remembering the Fallen–friends, relatives, and those none of us ever knew personally. I can cite numerous remembrances that have appeared at TAH and a two or three Gold Star Moms visit here and occasionally comment.
RIP Msg.
This… Is why stolen valor matters and we can’t put up with it!
Our world is a better place because of men like MSG Martin. May his sacrifices never be forgotten, and may we live up to his example both on and off the battlefield.