MOUNT CARMEL ITEM Young Franklin’s commission is reported in the August 6th, 1917 Mount Carmel Item.

MIKE CHOMKO, researcher and long time fan of Franklin H. Martin, had been looking for any kind of information on Martin for twenty-five years. Sadly, there seemed to be very little information out there—that is until recently when, inspired by the evidence card from the Thrilling Group vs Adventure House court case which refers to Martin as being a Newark Newspaper man, he thought to look in the Newark, NJ newspapers. This was all it took to unleash the floodgates of information that was out there.

Turns out he was not a Newark newspaper man, but his father was a well-known editor of the New York Tribune and Newark Star, and that Franklin H. Martin was actually Franklin M. Martin! There was information on his six sisters (he was the only boy); the East Orange, NJ home he grew up in; his WWI military service and his untimely death just before he turned 50 in 1948.

A lot of information came up—including the story of how Franklin M. Martin earned his Croix du Guerre.

GOV. STOKES’ AIDE WINS WAR LAURELS

TRENTON SUNDAY TIMES ADVERTISER • 1919-01-19; page 7.

Franklin Murphy Martin Proves Worthy of His Boyhood Commission as Captain

FORMER Governor E.C. Stokes has recently been in receipt of interesting correspondence linking up a pretty incident of his Executive experience with a stirring episode of the bloody war recently ended. The central figure in the story is Franklin Murphy Martin, son of the late James Martin, one of the best-known New Jersey journalists of a decade ago and prominent each winter for many years among the legislative correspondents at Trenton. Governor Stokes during the summer of 1907 occupied the Little White House at Sea Girt, and among his guests over one week-end were Mr. and Mrs. Martin, accompanied by their bright eight-year-old boy. This little chap exhibited a lively interest in the camp and the movements of the soldiers, and the Governor found him so interesting a visitor that to humor the lad’s fancy, he created him his aide-de-camp with rank of captain.

The brief summer visit ended and the Martins returned to their home in East Orange, but the incident at Sea Girt had left an indelible impression. Says Mrs. Martin:

“Besides being an object of pride, that captain’s commission playfully bestowed, was an instrument of discipline in later years. Whenever the youthful captain got out of hand I, as his superior officer, (Mr. Martin died March, 1910) took down his commission from its place on the library wall. ‘Conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman’ had an awe-inspiring sound to the youngster. It worked beautifully.”

Eleven years passed: America entered what was no mimic war, and one of the first volunteers for active service from Essex County was young Martin, now a fine, energetic, well-developed young man of nineteen. He was first assigned to Camp McClellan, being attached to the 312th Regiment of Heavy Artillery, and in due course went overseas to fight with Pershing’s army. Here he was transferred to the 803rd Aero Squadron, and news recently reached his mother that he was decorated with the Croix de Guerre “for conspicuous heroism in action,” besides being promoted to be a sergeant as a further recognition of his bravery.

The story of the exploit in which he figured is modestly told in a letter which Sergeant Martin sent to his mother.

“I was carrying dispatches at the big drive along the Marne,” he wrote; “as you know I make fairly good maps and sketches and was sent up with a filer from headquarters over the enemy lines. On our return flight we were obliged to fly low because of the dense clouds and were shot down and fell on the wrong side of the Marne. I jumped into the Marne and, thanks to the bum aim of Fritz and my ability to swim some under water, delivered the maps—nothing conspicuous about it. Yanks are doing a thousand times as much every day. I was unhurt, but my pilot was badly wounded by machine gun bullets.”

Knowing Governor Stokes’ lusting interest in his eight-year-old aide-de-camp, Mrs. Martin sent the story of the episode to Trenton with the characteristic maternal remark: “Had the war lasted longer, 1 have not a doubt but that Franklin would have been a really truly captain.

“But I thank God it is all over!”

And Governor Stokes has gracefully acknowledged Mrs. Martin’s letter with an expression of his appreciation for “the splendid courage and Americanism of my once little captain, Franklin M. Martin. Kindly extend my regards to the little soldier who was, and the big soldier who is, and my heartiest congratulations and best wishes.”

Many old Trenton friends of “Jimmy” Martin will be delighted to learn of the distinction that has come to his gallant son.

• Download “How Franklin H Martin earned his Croix de Guerre” (January 19, 1919, Trenton Sunday Times Advisor)

JACK & PETE. Martin (Pete) pose with his friend Jack after being awarded his Croix du Guerre.