Luis Martinez

Luis Martinez, 96, passed away Tuesday, May 29, 2012.-Luis was raised on his father's ranch in Zapata County and is preceded in death by his parents, Refugio Martinez and Maria De Jesus Medina-Martinez, and his wife of 55 years, Kathleen Maud Feeke-Martinez.

Luis had a hand in history.-He participated in one of the more famous New Deal Projects, witnessed D-Day, and attended General George S. Patton's funeral.-But what he remembered most as a World War II Veteran is meeting a young woman in the British Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service and falling in love.-Luis met Kathleen at a dance at Leiston Airfield, 365th Fighter Group, Suffolk England.-They courted, were married and returned to Laredo, Texas in 1946 to raise their seven children.-They were married for fifty-five years until her death in 2000.

Luis began work at an early age shining shoes and selling newspapers.-At 18, he joined the newly formed Civilian Conservation Corps., CCC.-The CCC was one of President Franklin Roosevelt's projects designed to give people work and structure during the depression.-Men worked paving roads, planting trees and doing other major construction projects.

Luis joined the US Army Air Corps in January 1942, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.-He was assigned to the 362nd Fighter Squadron/357th Fighter Group in Suffolk England.-Corporal Luis Martinez was honorable discharged from the United States Army in 1946.-Luis worked as a Civil Servant at Laredo Air Force Base and Kelly Air Force Base-for 24 years and served in the Air Force Reserve for more than 20 years.-He was a refrigeration/air condition Mechanic.

He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9194, and became commander of both in the 1990's.-He supported visiting sick veterans and coordinating to honor those who died.-He enjoyed attending the annual Intertribal Pow-Wow held over Memorial Day weekend that honored all Veterans.-He also enjoyed boating, hunting, and fishing.

Luis is survived by seven children, Teresa Martinez-Cox (Dennis"), Luis (Argelia) Martinez, Robert (Rosemary) Martinez, Richard (Rosie") Martinez, Chester (Toni) Martinez, George (Karen) Martinez, and Brenda Martinez-Castillo (Noe Esparza).-Mr. Martinez is also survived by his sister Teresa Rodriguez of Laredo, Texas; 17 grandchildren: Dacia, Stephen (Carol), Justin, Derek, Luis C. (Elizabeth), Alejandro (Maureen), Robert (Michelle), Jason (Yolanda), Lori (Jeremy), Richard, Jr., Chester, Jr., Jessica (Clarence), George, Marie, Jennifer (Gerardo), Leslie (Gabriel), and Hector, Jr.; 21 great-grandchildren: Evan, Anna, Sylvia, Vivian, Elisabetta, Mikaila, Angel, Ariel, Elise, Alyssa, Kathleen, Karli, Katzka, Amiya, Alexandro, Christian, Gabriel, Ashley, Victoria, and Karissa; nephews and nieces: Tomas (Diana) and family, Ricardo (Oralia) and family, Lucy (Alberto) and family, Susan (Andy) and family, Michael (Linda) and family, Jane, Peter, Rebecca, Linda (Neil), and Sara Dolman, of Norfolk England.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made through the American Legion at: http://www.legion.org, Veterans of Foreign War, http://www.vfw.org/contribute, or the Wounded Warriors Project, http://support.woundedwarriorsproject.org.