Major (Ret) Valentin Martinez

February 18, 1937 - January 25, 2024

Major (Ret) Valentin Martinez, 86, of San Antonio, peacefully passed away on January 25, 2024. He was born in San Antonio, Texas, to Rosalia (Noriega) and Victoriano Martinez on February 18, 1937. His siblings were brothers Victor, Jesse, Vicente, Guadalupe and Robert, and sisters Marta, Manuela (Nellie) and Nancy. Maj. Martinez served in the U. S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and the Texas State Guard, enlisting at the age of 17 and retiring with the Texas State Guard on May 1, 2008, at the age of 71. (Maj. Martinez was in fact so eager to serve his country, he attempted to do so at the age of 16 under the name of an older brother but his noble misrepresentation was quickly found out and caused a minor delay in the start of his service!) Maj. Martinez served three tours in Vietnam during his military career, twice with the U.S. Marine Corps and once with the U.S. Army. He received numerous awards and decorations to include three Purple Hearts medals, two Bronze Star medals, the Combat Action ribbon, U.S. Army, German and Vietnamese Airborne badges and the Combat Infantry badge.

He was a nominee for Marine of the Year for the Marine Corps League multiple times during his career. The combined military service of Maj. Martinez, his brothers, sons, nephews and nieces is well over 200 years. Although his military service began at age 17, Maj. Martinez worked for as long as he could remember to help support his family that shared a 2-bedroom home on the west side of San Antonio. As a child, he picked cotton, fruits and vegetables, and sold produce alongside his father at local markets. Despite the many adversities he faced growing up, he persevered through hard work and a strong advocacy for continuous learning. Maj. Martinez was the founder of organizations that included the All-American Armed Forces Parade Association, Memorial Service Detachment, the U.S. Military Veterans Parade Association, the Military Order of the Purple Hearts Alamo Chapter 1836 and the Alamo

Silver Wings Airborne Association – an association responsible for collaborating to establish a Memorial Service Detachment at Fort Sam Houston in order to enhance funeral support for thousands of veterans and retirees under the leadership of Maj. Martinez. He was a lifetime member or carried associations with: The

1st Marine Division, 36th Infantry Division, 82nd Airborne Division, 141st Infantry Division, Alamo Silver Wings Airborne Association, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 25, Fleet Reserve Association, Hispanic American Airborne Association, Honorary Submariner USS Perch (AP33 313), Knights of Columbus Council No. 4786, Marine Corps League, Miguel Hernandez Chapter of the GI Forum, NCOA, Texas Army National Guard Officers Association, Texas Police Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Reserve Law Officers Association of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9186, Veterans of Greater San Antonio, Retired Enlisted Association, Catholic War Veterans, 509th Parachute Infantry Association, American Association of Retired Persons, National Association for Uniformed Services, America’s Lost Patrol, Military Order of the Devil Dogs, and the West San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. His honorable military career was complemented by educational achievements and public service in law enforcement. At the age of 45, Maj. Martinez went back to school and enrolled in college courses. He obtained three associate of applied science degrees in Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice and Public Administration from San Antonio College. His degrees were added to his other diplomas, certificates, credentials, awards, citations, clippings, pictures and memorabilia that filled the walls of his house. He then pursued a law enforcement career with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Department where he honored his brother, Guadalupe, who at the age of 23 was killed in the line of duty as a rookie San Antonio police officer. He was a graduate of the Master Certified Peace Officer, Military Intelligence, SWAT, and Police Instructor schools. From 1984 to 1996, he owned and managed the All American Security Agency. After leaving the Sheriff’s Office he continued to contribute to the community by volunteering his service to the Red Cross and other community programs. He lived his life with great courage and great faith, often sharing his favorite expression: “Con Dios todo, sin Dios nada” (“With God everything, without God nothing”). Maj. Martinez married Rosa Diaz in 1954 and they had four sons. He was married to Rosa until her passing on June 2, 2004. He remarried a year later. Maj. Martinez leaves a legacy of love and enrichment, and felt very blessed to see his family members lead successful lives, to include: Three sons that retired from the military, with one also retiring after 21 years as a police officer, 12 grandchildren between his sons with college education or degrees, a grandson serving in the U.S. Army with the 82nd Airborne Division and much, much more. He was extremely proud of his family. In addition to his immediate family, he also had nephews and nieces that were all successful in politics, business, law enforcement and other fields. Maj. Martinez is survived by his four sons and their spouses, Jesse C (US Army-Retired) and Anne; Valentin Jr. (US Army-Retired); Robert Guy (USAF-Retired); and Mike Joe and Linda Martinez; brother, Robert; sisters, Manuela (Nellie) and Nancy; grandsons Roland, John Mark,

Steven and Robert Jay; granddaughters Jennifer, Christina, Jeanette, Tiffany, Brittany and Tarah; great-grandsons Anthony and Christopher Angel; great-granddaughters MaryAnn, Liana and Jessie; great-great granddaughters Aly and Novah and a host of other family members and friends. He is preceded in death by Rosa Diaz Martinez; his parents Victoriano and Rosalia N. Martinez; brothers, Victor, Jesse, Vicente and Guadalupe; sister, Marta; and granddaughter, Valerie Foster. A celebration of life, rosary, mass and gathering will take place for Maj. Valentin Martinez at a later date. The Martinez family pays gratitude to Ernest Gonzalez, Anchorage Hospice, and Dahlia Ball, Altima HHC, for their devotion and sincere care of Maj. Martinez during his final days.