[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 10 (Thursday, January 12, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E24]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE LIFE OF PETTY OFFICER THIRD CLASS WILL MARTIN, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MICHAEL CLOUD

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 12, 2023

  Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, Petty Officer Third Class Will Martin, Jr. 
passed away on January 6, 2023, at the age of 74.
  A veteran of the Vietnam War, Petty Officer Third Class Will Martin 
Jr. served his country with dignity as a Seabee in the United States 
Navy from 1965 to 1969. Will exemplified the Seabee motto of ``Can 
Do,'' and following his service, he integrated this into his daily life 
as he worked tirelessly for decades to build ``Communities of Honor and 
Excellence,'' not only in Victoria County but across the state of 
Texas.
  Along the way, Will's journey saw him serve as the American Legion 
Commander, the American Legion Legislative Representative for the 
Department of Texas, an officer with both the Vietnam Veterans of 
America and the Disabled American Veterans, and as the founder and 
Commander of the U.S. Navy Seabees Association, Victoria Chapter. He 
dedicated his spare time to the Warrior's Weekend Field of Honor and 
was a great friend and supporter of the wounded servicemen and women 
who came in from all over the nation.
  For nearly a decade, Will was the President of the Conservative 
Texans for Charitable Bingo that helped hundreds of charities all over 
the state of Texas receive tens of millions of dollars for their 
activities. As a legislative liaison, he worked with State Senators and 
Representatives to ensure ongoing access to funding that allowed 
service organizations to focus on their missions of helping thousands 
of Texans.
  Furthermore, Will was a friend to first responders, in particular law 
enforcement. He led the effort to craft a county ordinance banning 
illegal game rooms and the drug and human trafficking crime that 
accompanied them. This ordinance, which gave Law Enforcement greater 
opportunity to stop this illegal activity, was adopted first in 
Victoria County and soon spread throughout the Golden Crescent and 
Coastal Bend. This initiative likely prevented the trafficking of 
hundreds of at-risk youth and kept millions of dollars out of the hands 
of organized crime.
  Most importantly, Will was a faithful Christian man who lived his 
life as a disciple of God's word and as a passionate servant. 
Throughout his commendable life--up until the very end--Will Martin's 
love of God and Country and service to others never faded.

                          ____________________