Thomas J. Martin
Corporal Thomas J. Martin of Pennsauken, NJ.
Rank: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Serial Number: 411134
Unit: 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division
Entered service from: New Jersey
Died:
Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill (Delaware Township), NJ
Private First Class Thomas J. Martin was born September 10, 1921, the sixth child of James J. and Mary Martin of 6835 Highland Avenue, Pennsauken, NJ. His father had emigrated from Scotland in 1897 at the age of 18, married, and established his own plastering business — James Martin & Sons — in which the three oldest boys worked as of 1930. The Martins were members of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in East Camden.
Thomas Martin was a 1940 graduate of Camden Catholic High School in Camden. Prior to entering the military he worked as a blueprint machine operator in the photostatic department of the New York Shipbuilding Company in Camden. Drafted at the same time as his brother Joseph, he entered the Marine Corps on July 1, 1942, and went overseas two years later as a member of a marine communications unit.
Corporal Martin was killed on Iwo Jima on February 20, 1945. He was survived by his parents, brothers James Jr., Francis, John, Joseph, Charles, and Vincent, and a sister, Mary.
After the war, Thomas Martin was brought home to New Jersey and laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery in Delaware Township (present-day Cherry Hill), NJ, next to his parents.
Grave Marker, Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill, NJ
Grave marker of Corporal Thomas James Martin, Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill, NJ.
Photos
The Martin family home at 6835 Highland Avenue, Pennsauken, NJ.
Advertisement for James Martin & Sons, Plastering Contractor, from the St. Joseph’s Church 1893–1943 Golden Jubilee Yearbook.
Cpl. T. J. Martin Rites To Be Wednesday
Camden Courier-Post — 1945
Solemn requiem Mass for Cpl. Thomas J. Martin will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday in St. Joseph’s Church, Twenty-ninth street and Westfield avenue. Burial will be in Calvary cemetery. Friends may call tomorrow night at the funeral home at 2850 Westfield avenue.
Corporal Martin was killed in action on Iwo Jima Feb. 20, 1945, while on duty with the Twenty-Sixth Marines, Fifth Division. He was 22. Prior to his enlistment on July 1, 1942, Corporal Martin worked in the photostatic department in the New York Shipbuilding Corp. He went overseas in July, 1944. He graduated from Camden Catholic High school in 1940.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James J. Martin Sr., 6835 Highland avenue, Pennsauken; a sister, Mary, and six brothers, Charles, Vincent, James, Francis, John and Joseph.
Marine League To Honor Hero
Camden Courier-Post — 1945
The South Jersey Marine League will conduct services Monday at the grave of a Pennsauken marine killed on Iwo Jima. He was Cpl. Thomas J. Martin, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Martin, 6835 Highland avenue, Pennsauken. The rites will be in memory of all South Jersey marine dead.
Services will be conducted at 9 a.m. at Cpl. Martin’s grave in Calvary cemetery. The Pennsauken marine was killed February 20, 1945.
A graduate of Camden Catholic High school, he was employed at the New York Shipbuilding Co. prior to enlisting in 1942. At the time of his death he was assigned to a marine communications unit.