New York National Guard Renders Honors to Korean War MIA Soldier Sunday, Dec. 2 in Schuylerville

Media Advisory

Latham, NY (11/30/2018) — A New York Army National Guard Honor Guard and New York Army National Guard leaders will render funeral honors to Korean War Pfc. John Martin as he is laid to rest at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Schuylerville, N.Y. Sunday, Dec. 2.

WHO: Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York, and members of the New York Military Forces Honor Guard join the family of Pfc. John Martin.

WHAT: Final military honors for the funeral service of Korean War Soldier Pfc. John Martin. Major General Ray Shields will present an American flag to members of the Soldier's family. Martin's remains are being return 68 years after the December 1950 Battle of Chosin Reservoir in which he was killed.

WHEN: 2 p.m., Sunday, December 2, 2018.

WHERE: Burial with full military honors at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Schuylerville.

Media Opportunity:

Imagery of full military honors for the burial of Korean War missing Soldier Pfc. John Martin, including the firing of honors, playing of Taps, and the presentation of the folded American flag to the family.

Army Pfc. John Martin

Pfc. John William Martin was born in Northumberland on Feb. 2, 1927, the second son of George and Nellie Baker Martin.

Martin was a veteran of World War II, serving with the Marine Corps, and was a member of the New York Army National Guard, serving with Company L, 105th Infantry Regiment in Saratoga Springs.

He enlisted in the Army in April 1950 with the Medical Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was lost while engaged in combat operations against the Chinese Peoples Volunteer Forces in the area of the Chosin Reservoir on Dec. 2, 1950.

He was declared MIA on Dec. 2, 1950 in Korea.

Martin's name did not appear on any prisoner of war lists, and no returning prisoners of war reported that he had been captured. Based on this information, he was declared deceased as of Dec. 31, 1951. In 1956, his remains were declared non-recoverable.

In September 2001, during the 25th Joint Recovery Operation, a burial site located at the Chosin Reservoir, in the vicinity of where Martin's unit fought during the war, was excavated. The remains were brought to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) laboratory for identification.

To identify Martin's remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used DNA analysis, anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.

His remains were confirmed on September 24, 2018.

Martin's name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Today, 7,675 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War.

Martin's awards include the Purple Heart, the Army Good Combat Ribbon, the Combat Medical Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

He is predeceased by his parents; as well as two sisters, Irma Martin and Eleanor Santore; brothers, Charles (Pepper) Martin, Douglas Martin and Robert Martin; and two nephews, Craig Martin and Michael Martin.

Surviving family includes five nieces and five nephews; as well as 20 grandnieces and grandnephews.

Martin's remains were accompanied home by his great-grandnephew, Airman Schuyler Dolton.

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