F3c Luster Lee Martin

Amidst the rolling plains and endless skies of Clayton, Oklahoma, a place tucked away from the bustling cities, a young boy named Luster Lee Martin was born on March 10, 1916. The son of George William Martin, a diligent farmer, and Rella Miller Martin, a devoted homemaker, Luster Lee, affectionately known as “Bug,” entered this world with an unyielding spirit and an unquenchable thirst for adventure.

The echoes of war reverberated through the nation during his early years, as his father filled out a military registration card in September 1918. However, the winds of fate proved cruel, for by the time the January 1920 Census arrived, Mr. Martin was no longer among the living. His widow, Rella, faced the challenges of raising her three young sons, all aged five and under, with unwavering strength and determination. They found solace in the warm embrace of her father, Robert A. Miller, a farmer residing about 30 miles north in the town of Quinton, Oklahoma.

Rella, a resilient woman, soon found love anew and embarked on a new chapter of her life with her marriage to Ervin Whittington. The family relocated to Quinton and made it their home until at least 1927. However, destiny had more in store for them, leading them to the bustling city of Amarillo, Texas in 1930. It was there that Ervin found work at a zinc smelter, weaving their lives into the vibrant tapestry of the city.

Yet, the call of their roots grew stronger, and the Martins returned to Quinton by the late 1930s, seeking the familiar embrace of their small-town community. In the annals of the local newspaper, glimpses of Luster Lee’s presence emerged, as his name was mentioned in articles highlighting the achievements of the Quinton High School class of 1933. The seed of ambition had been planted within his soul, fueled by the love and support of his family and the nurturing environment of his hometown.

As the 1940s dawned, the world stood on the precipice of unprecedented turmoil. Luster Lee, a young man of promise, was captured in the 1940 Census. It revealed that he had completed a year of college, but circumstances had led him away from the hallowed halls of academia. With a steadfast determination, he worked tirelessly as a farmhand for 50 weeks in 1939, earning a modest sum of $90. Together with his step-father, mother, and four siblings, he resided on the family farm, a testament to the resilience and unity that defined their bond.

But destiny had set its sights on Luster Lee, beckoning him toward a calling that would etch his name in the annals of valor. In November 1940, a fire burned within his heart, compelling him to leave the familiarity of Quinton, population 1,245, behind. The call of duty summoned him to the noble ranks of the United States Navy, and with unwavering resolve, he enlisted in Dallas, Texas. Luster Lee Martin embarked on a new journey, embracing the unknown with the spirit of a true patriot.

It was on the mighty U.S.S. Arizona, amid the azure waters of Pearl Harbor, that Luster Lee Martin, now a fireman third class, found himself standing tall on that fateful day of December 7, 1941. The sun had barely risen when the deafening roar of enemy aircraft shattered the tranquility of the Hawaiian morning. From the depths of the ocean, an insidious force unleashed its fury, launching an unprovoked attack on the harbor that would forever change the course of history.