MARTIN, SCHWARTZ, BUFANO

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 11:27:33 :

Independent Journal
Monday, April 3, 1978

EDWARD MARTIN

Edward Martin, 75, of San Rafael, a retired Air Force master sergeant, died Saturday at Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco, after a one-year illness.

Martin retired from Hamilton Air Force Base in 1958 after a 30-year military career, including a stretch as an Air Force captain in the Pacific in 1945.

Martin was a native of New York who began his military career in 1928 at Rockwell Field, near San Diego. He was sent to the Phillipines in 1933 and in 1935 was stationed at Hamilton with the 7th Bombardment Squadron, first operational unit at the base.

During World War II he helped establish a fighter plane base behind enemy lines in New Guinea and was awarded a Bronze Star for outstanding service.

After the war he reverted to his rank of master sergeant and returned to Hamilton Force Base.

On retirement he was awarded an Air Fore Commendation Medal for his service as non-commissioned officer in charge of the supply division, directorate of electronics, Western Air Defense Force headquarters.

Martin, a longtime resident of San Rafael, had been a director of the San Rafael Meadows Improvement Association.

Surviving are his wife, Ruth Martin, of San Rafael; a son, Milton Schwartz of San Rafael, a daughter, Shirley Bufano of San Francisco; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Private family service will be held Tuesday at Keaton’s Mortuary, San Rafael. Inurnment will be at Golden Gate National Cemetery, Colma. The family prefers that memorial contributions be to Hanna Boys Center, Sonoma.