More detail on this person: Martin A. Jetton ,CW-3 retired army. Martin entered the army 7
Feburary 1946 and served 221/2 years. He was in class 57-6, and served in Viet Nam with the 179th
ASHC and the 196th ASHC.After retirement he flew helicopters for a logging company in Alaska for a
number of years. This information was last updated 05/09/2013
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Date posted on this site:
01/11/2025
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He will be missed by many of us who knew him. He was a good aviator,a good soldier and a good man.
From: Bob Springer
Martin Arthur Jetton fought a long hard battle with numerous health issues, but lost the fight and
passed away Friday morning, July 19th at his home in Newton, Texas. He was one week short of his
85th birthday. Martin was born July 25, 1928 in Joaquin, Texas to Ned Allen and Evie Rogers Jetton.
He was preceded in death by both parents and his brother, Larue; also a granddaughter, Rachel
Selman. He is survived by his wife, Louise, one son, Arthur of Jasper, daughter, Vlynn and husband,
Mike Reed of Graford, Texas, daughter, Linda and husband, Terry Coleman of Roseburg, Oregon;
grandson, John Watson of Phoenix, Arizona, grandson, Daniel Jetton of Newton, grandson, Brian
Selman who is a student at the University of Texas in Austin, granddaughter Sara and husband, Jeremy
Henard of Weatherford, Texas; a great- granddaughter Kenzie Jetton of Newton, great granddaughter,
Meadow Henard of Graford, Texas. Martin was home on leave from Korea when he met his future wife
Louise Wilson, a student at S. F. A. in Nacogdoches. They were married July 24, 1952 in the Main
Post Chapel in Ft. Benning, Ga. Thjey were going to celebrate 61 years of marriage today! The couple
lived in several different places, including Japan, Alaska, and several other states. Martin was a
paratrooper but later went to Ft. Walters at Mineral Wells, Texas to train to fly helicopters. He
finished in August of 1957 in Ft. Rucker, Alabama. He did 22 and one half years of Army service,
which included serving in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. After retiring March 31, 1968, he tooka
job with Louisiana-Pacific flying helicopters for their logging camps on the Prince of Whales Island
in Southeast, Alaska. They lived in the logging camp of Thorne Bay, Alaska for a number of years,
where Louise taught school and retired from there. Martin suffered a heart attack June, 1981 while
attending a retirement picnic the community was doing for him. He had purchased a sailboat and
decided it was time to sail around the world while Louise did three more years for Alaska
retirement. He made it thru the Panama Canal and tied the boat, The Arlinda at Seabrook, Tx. near
Houston. He had many interest and hobbies which included raising parakeets, growing roses, cutting
and polishing gem stones, doing archeology, collecting arrowheads and much more. He was a member
at the First United Methodist Church in Newton, TX. and in the summer of 1993, worked tirelessly
with Mr. Chili Glover remodeling a little building to begin the Methodist Christian Preschool.
Visitation will be Wednesday, July 24th from 5 to 7 Pm at Smith Funeral Home in Newton. The funeral
service will be at Smith Funeral Home in Newton at 2 PM with Bro. Gary Blacksher conducting the
service. Afterwards, he will be laid to rest in Trout Creek Cemetery, with Taps as his final send
off. Those wishing to contribute in lieu of flowers man donate to DAV or VFW.
Published in The Beaumont Enterprise on July 24, 2013