Steven James Martin's interview for the Veterans History Project at Atlanta History Center

We welcome your comments on this interview at [e-mail]
Catalog number: VIS 201.0737
In this interview, Steve Martin recalls his service as an Army helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. He describes his father's early life, including time his father spent as a bus driver for soldiers from the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (portrayed in the 2001 HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers") in Toccoa, Georgia, during the unit's training there. He attended ROTC at the University of Georgia; went through basic training at Fort Benning; and then attended flight school, acquiring his commercial pilot's license and instruments ratings at the same time. He describes many incidents during his first few months in Vietnam, including his first encounter with the Viet Cong (a thirteen year-old boy); his first experience being shot at (by a Vietnamese woman); and volunteering to teach English to Vietnamese civilians, of whom he thought very highly. He recalls seeing the extensive use of Agent Orange and describes the experimental treatments he endured for the leukemia he developed as a result of his exposure to the defoliant. He describes in great detail the events of 20 February 1966 when the helicopter he was co-piloting collided with another helicopter during a troop extraction. The collision killed the pilot, the vehicle's crew chief, and another soldier, and seriously injured Martin. He recalls the field hospital physician, Captain James Marvel, whose actions saved Martin's badly mangled leg and left hand. He remembers meeting entertainer Ann-Margret while in hospital in Vietnam. He describes helping other badly wounded soldiers use entertainment facilities near Walter Reed Army Medical Center while he was recovering there and recalls meeting and marrying his wife, Judy, one of the nurses at Walter Reed. He recalls meeting Captain Marvel again thirty years after the war and meeting with Ann-Margret again long after the war because she remembered her interaction with him in Vietnam. He describes his involvement in the founding of the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association and reflects on his military service.

[@wyatterp6480]

Helicopter Pilots were big heros in Nam! They did so many brave and courageous acts to save many lives! Thank you

[@davidmartin4396]

HERO

[@djomegaminus]

My brain skipped the James and I saw Steven Martin.

[@topgeardel]

Here's the short version. He did not belong in Vietnam. He had no legitimate right to be there. It was not his fight. He was an invader and aggressor in someone else's country that did nothing to Americans and the USA. He is not a hero or someone's victim. He is a survivor of an American disgrace and tragedy and got to live the rest of his life.
He doesn't need an hour to say what's important and truthful.

[@jmp.t28b99]

Did you ever serve ?

[@topgeardel]

What a loaded question. Define "serving".@@jmp.t28b99

[@robertisham5279]

@@jmp.t28b99 Who cares?