MSG Timothy L. Martin

3 October 1993, Somalia

USASOC

Master Sergeant Timothy L. Martin of Aurora, Indiana, died on 3 October 1993 while supporting Operation CONTINUE HOPE in Somalia.

Martin enlisted in the U.S. Army as an Infantryman in 1974. After completing Infantry One Station Unit Training and Airborne school, he was assigned to Company B, 2nd Ranger Battalion at Fort Lewis, Washington. While serving with 2nd Ranger Battalion, he completed the Ranger Course, Jungle Training, and Jumpmaster school. He attended Combat Engineer Advanced Individual Training and the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1979. Upon graduation, he was assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, where he served as a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant. In 1982, MSG Martin was selected as a Special Operations Team Member, and later served as a Master Breacher, Team Sergeant, and Instructor/Trainer, prior to his assignment to Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st SFG, in Okinawa, Japan, from 1989 to 1991.

After returning to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, MSG Martin deployed to Somalia in August 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger. He was fatally wounded by small arms fire during the Battle of Mogadishu. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Special Forces Command, at the time of his death.