Edwin Martin '29
Date of birth: January 25, 1907
Date of death: August 22, 1942
Age: 35
Lucky Bag
From the 1929 Lucky Bag:
EDWIN PRATHER MARTIN
Maysville, Kentucky
"Ed" "Doc" "Flossie"
LADIES and gentlemen, a true son of the old Bluegrass State. With but slight interest in horses, he devotes himself to the other half of the famous pair—pretty women. When the time of hops rolls around, Ed is there in his glory—usually dragging. An otherwise good average received a grave set-back one week-end during Youngster year, but usually he has been a credit to his class. His one bad habit is his love of fishing—he goes crabbing almost every week-end. He's not the perfect snake as yet, but it's not for lack of trying. He, too, takes his dragging seriously.
There's a streak of Scotch somewhere in his make-up, as he demonstrated when someone attempted to inveigle him into a bet. Ed doesn't bet; he makes investments. The quiet of Second Class Cruise was shattered with a loud bang, when overnight "Flossie" burst forth into fame, achieved his new nick-name, a private yell, and much notoriety. No reason has yet been found for this occurrence, but it might have been San Francisco. Quien sabe?
Doc is an athlete, too, but of the radiator variety. Those of us who have been privileged to know Ed well will always remember him as a quiet and unassuming friend, a true shipmate, and an always dependable member of the gold-brick squad.
Crew 3, 2; 150 lb. Gymkhana 4. Sub-Squad 4, 3, 2. 1 P.O.
Loss
Edwin was lost when USS Ingraham (DD 444) was sunk on August 22, 1942 by a collision with an oil tanker while on convoy duty off the coast of Nova Scotia. Ingraham sank almost immediately, and depth charges on her stern detonated as she went down. Only eleven men survived.
He was the only Lieutenant Commander aboard; he was likely the ship's executive officer.
Edwin wife was listed as next of kin. He has a memory marker in Kentucky.
Memorial Hall Error
One site lists him as a CDR. Posthumous promotion?
Class of 1929
Edwin is one of 28 members of the Class of 1929 in Memorial Hall.
