FORT IRWIN, Calif. - In a ceremony replete with military tradition, the commander of the National Training Center and Fort Irwin was promoted to major general, Jan 24.
Major Gen. Ted Martin shook hands with Gen. Daniel Allyn after being pinned a second star in front of an audience of family, friends, leadership and Soldiers of this military installation. Allyn, commanding general of United States Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, N.C., placed a second star on Martin's uniform. Allyn also made it possible for Martin's mother Joan, who is 83, to see the promotion in Florida through video teleconference at a Navy base.
Martin took command of the NTC and Fort Irwin, Feb. 21, 2013. He previously was stationed here as commander of Operations Group (2009-2010). He served as Commandant of Cadets at West Point from 2011 to 2013.
Military heritage in Martin's family spans more than 10 generations to 1776 when Pvt. Daniel Martin enlisted in the 1st New Jersey Infantry Regiment and fought the British during the American Revolution, including service at Valley Forge. Martin's dad, Ephraim Martin III, who has since passed away, served in the Navy and Army. After joining ROTC and graduating from the University of Maine he was commissioned an infantry lieutenant in 1951. He served in Korea and Vietnam and was medically retired in 1969, 100 percent disabled, as a lieutenant colonel. Martin and his three brothers followed their dad's example and served in the Army, after graduating from the United States Military Academy.
"We all wanted to grow up and be just like our dad - a professional Soldier. A Soldier for life!" Martin said. "Mom is a 'Soldier's wife for life.' She married my dad right out of college and together they raised four boys all who went on to be Soldiers. Although my dad was not projected to live very long after medical retirement, my mom did everything in her power to keep him going -- and did a fantastic job. He lived long enough to see all four boys graduate from West Point and get commissioned as Army officers."
Martin's brothers completed their careers as military officers. His oldest brother, Ephraim Martin IV, graduated from West Point in 1975 and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1995; he received a doctorate in operations research from the Colorado School of Mines and now lives in retirement in Orlando. Paul K. Martin graduated from West Point in 1980 and retired as a colonel in 2009; he is currently serving as the director of plans at the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Policy). Andrew N. Martin graduated from West Point in 1985 and retired as a colonel in 2011; he currently serves as a contractor in northern Virginia.
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