Sergeant Anthony Martin
The immense pain that Sergeant Anthony Martin felt when he was drafted and had to leave behind his wife Shirley Nelson was agonizing. Anthony was fresh out of college and planned to marry his girlfriend Shirley. Soon, the big day was upon them and they were joyously married, but this happiness was short-lived. A few days later, to Anthony's dismay, he was drafted into the U.S. Air Force. At the airport, Anthony and Shirley tearfully said good bye for the very last time.
Sergeant Anthony Martin is an example of a young life cut down by the atrocities of war. Anthony Martin was a college student on scholarship to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Anthony promptly married his true love Shirley Nelson. Although they were married, the war would not cease for two people who wanted to live their lives to the fullest. Instead, active duty wrenched Anthony and Shirley apart and destroyed the hope that war would not take them. On November 21, 1944, Anthony's B-17 bomber was shot down over Germany. Never again would Anthony's family feel warmth he gave them, no more would they hear his cheerful voice, and no more would they have him to comfort them when they were sad.
Winston Churchill stated after the Battle of Britain, "Never in the history of man kind, have so many given so much for so few." Many brave young men in the Air Force died while serving their country. If all those young, brave soldiers had not died many families would not be grieving for someone they loved or never knew. Sergeant Anthony Martin was no exception. After the end of World War II, Anthony's family was given his medals and ribbons which he worked so hard to earn. The medals included the Air Medal, the Oak Leaf Cluster, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Medal, and the ETO ribbon. All the young men like Anthony who died fighting valiantly will always remain in our hearts.
Nick Guzowski, Student
Marshfield Junior High
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