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Wing remembers fallen maintainer

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dani Pacheco
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. --  Members of the 315th Airlift Wing gathered together today for a memorial service in honor of Technical Sergeant Charles D. Martin at the chapel here. Sergeant Martin, a native of South Carolina, passed away Friday June 5 at the age of 59. He was laid to rest in a funeral service held Monday, June 8 in the chapel of J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., in North Charleston. 

The memorial allowed the men and women of the 315th Airlift Wing to get together and share experiences and fond memories amongst themselves, as well as with Sergeant Martin's family and friends who were in attendance. 

Colonel James Joyce, commander of the 315th Maintenance Group, opened the service with a few remarks about a man who "was committed, right down to the soles of his shoes. We had a good man here; a loving friend; a wonderful family member and a great maintainer. Who was the first guy on the truck? Charlie. Who was the last guy off the truck? Charlie. If there was work to do, he was the guy to get it done." 

Following Colonel Joyce's remarks, Sergeant Martin was posthumously awarded with an Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service by Major David Cooksey, gold section, officer in charge for 315th AMXS. 

Friends of the late sergeant then had the opportunity to man the pulpit. 

"I represent one of the many folks here that knew or worked with Charlie," said Senior Master Sergeant James Macko, flight chief assigned to the 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "I first met him back in the late 1980s when we worked on C-141s. Charlie loved that aircraft." 

Sergeant Macko amused those in attendance with tales of his and Sergeant Martin's early days in the Air Force when they were allowed to ride bikes on the flightline. "One thing you didn't do was mess with Charlie's bike," remembered Sergeant Macko making the audience chuckle at the memory of their lost coworker and friend. 

"He was always a hard worker. You could count on him," said Sergeant Macko. "I want to challenge all of the young Airmen here today to have the same type of work ethic and compassion as Charlie." 

Technical Sergeant Charles D. Martin was an Air Reserve Technician and crew chief with the 315 AMXS. He leaves behind three brothers and one sister. He will be missed by all who knew him.