One of Colonel Sink's original "Toccoa Men", James Martin joined the now famous 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Camp Toccoa in July, 1942 - the regiment featuring the acclaimed 'Band of Brothers.' He was soon given the nickname "Pee Wee" due to being the lightest man in the regiment.

Martin parachuted into Normandy (landing near Saint-Côme-du-Mont behind Utah Beach) at 12:30 AM 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 17, 1944 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.

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". The 101st Airborne Division was trucked over 100 miles to the Belgian crossroads town of Bastogne. The 3rd Battalion established defensive positions on the northern perimeter where they endured bitter cold and some of the most difficult fighting on the Western Front.

James H. "Pee Wee" Martin passed away on September 11, 2022 at 101 years old.

Interview recorded on November 8, 2014

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