Dearborn native is third-highest ranking officer in Army
DEARBORN – U.S. Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Joseph M. Martin will serve as grand marshal of the city’s 96th Memorial Day Parade, which was on a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The parade and Remembrance Ceremony, a time-honored tradition honoring those who have died in service to the country, will return May 30.
A 4-star general, Martin is the third-highest ranking officer in the U.S. Army after the army chief of staff and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is a U.S. Army general.
“I cherish the sense of community and patriotism that growing up in Dearborn instilled in me at an early age, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to recognize our city’s veterans for their service and sacrifice,” Martin said.
Martin will lead the parade and give keynote remarks at the Remembrance Ceremony.
“We are honored to welcome General Martin back to Dearborn as we honor the service of our veterans, and pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our nation,” Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said.
Martin is a Dearborn native and has previously served as parade grand marshal. He is a 1981 graduate of Dearborn High School, and went on to attend the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1986.
He also holds degrees and certifications from the University of Louisville, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College.
Previous to his appointment as the U.S. Army’s 37th vice chief of staff in July 2019, Martin served in previous roles as tank platoon leader, scout platoon leader and company executive officer in the 37th Armor Regiment, in the 1st Infantry Division where he commanded Company B during Operation Desert Storm and at Fort Riley, Kan.
Among many other assignments, he served as commanding general, 1st Infantry Division, where he deployed and commanded the Combined Joint Force Land Component Command in Operation Inherent Resolve.
His most recent assignment was the director of the Army Staff. He has been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal with “V” device.
The parade — one of the largest Memorial Day parades in the United States and the oldest continuously running parade in Michigan — will begin at 10 a.m. May 30.
The parade will feature more than 60 marching groups, hundreds of veterans, and a historic aircraft flyover.
Organized every year by the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council and the city, the parade also will include eight school bands and many community organizations. U.S. Navy sailors and musicians from Navy Band Great Lakes also will be in the parade.
The parade will march west on Michigan Avenue from Maple to Henry Ford Centennial Library.
Veterans to be honored during funeral procession before parade
Before the parade, at 9:40 a.m., there will be a silent honorary funeral procession carrying the cremains of veterans who hadn’t received proper burial. The ceremonial funeral procession is a tradition that draws attention to veterans who died without resources and were cremated, but never interred.
After the procession, the cremains will be escorted to the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly where they will be properly laid to rest. This effort is organized by members of the DAWVC and the Missing in America Project.
To learn more about the parade, go to www.cityofdearborn.org/memorialdayparade
About Gen. Joseph M. Martin
Gen. Joseph M. Martin, the vice chief of staff of the Army, served in the U.S. Army for 36 years. Born in Royal Oak, his family resided in Dearborn throughout his childhood. His family is deeply rooted to the area with strong ties to the Ford Motor Co. Joe’s grandfather, Leonard Martin, worked there for 43 years. Joe’s father, Leonard Martin Jr., worked there for 42 years.
As a child, Joe attended Henry Ford Elementary and Woodworth Junior High. Prior to high school, the Martin family moved to the west side of Dearborn where Joe attended Clare Bryant Junior High and Dearborn High.
Joe demonstrated incredible athletic prowess when he began swimming competitively at the age of 8. Several of his swimming records stood for many years at Woodworth, Bryant, Dearborn High, and in championships hosted by the city. Joe credits his tough and dedicated swim coach of six years, Jack Dunworth, for his success in the sport. Today, the Jack Dunworth Memorial Pool in Dearborn honors his memory.
Because of his athletic accomplishments, Joe was recruited by several universities, including the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Although Joe’s family has a tradition steeped in naval aviation, Joe chose to attend West Point and to join the Army.
General Martin graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1986 and was commissioned as an armor officer. Throughout the next 30 years, Martin would serve and fight in some of the Army’s most storied divisions.
His first assignment was with the 1st Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment in the 1st Armored Division “Old Ironsides.” As a young captain, he led soldiers in combat for the first time as commander of Bravo Company, 4th Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, in the legendary 1st Infantry Division (“The Fighting First”) during Operation Desert Storm. The “Fighting First” was instrumental in the liberation of Kuwait from the forces of Iraq.
That would not be the last time Martin commanded soldiers in combat. After a series of successful assignments, he commanded the 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment in the 4th Infantry Division (Ivy) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Martin later returned to the First Infantry Division where he commanded the Soldiers of 2nd Brigade through tough combat conditions in northwest Baghdad, also in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Following Brigade Command and several other important high-level assignments, General Martin led the United States Army Operational Test Command, responsible for conducting independent operational testing to inform acquisition and fielding decisions. Later, he would serve as the Commanding General of the National Training Center and Fort Irwin in California, responsible for putting the Army’s Brigade Combat Teams through tough, realistic training.
In the middle of his tour as commander of the National Training Center, Martin was informed that he was to report to Fort Riley, Kan., to assume command of the 1st Infantry Division. In this capacity, he deployed to Baghdad to command the Combined Joint Force Land Component Command-Operation Inherent Resolve. Under his watch, Iraqi forces, with coalition support, regained vast amounts of territory from the Islamic State and liberated the city of Mosul.
Following his command of the Big Red One, Martin was appointed as the director of the Army staff, and later confirmed as the vice chief of staff of the Army. During his time as vice chief of staff, Martin led the Army’s efforts focused on saving the lives of soldiers at risk of death by suicide and the Army’s most consequential transformation in over 40 years.
His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal with “V” device.
Martin is married to the former Leann Michelle Guillory of Lake Charles, La. He credits Leann’s everlasting love and support for his success. The Martins have two children, Joey and Kylie.