WoundedWarriors.ca is honoured by the Memory of Private Randy Martin of 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, for his service and for his special gift.
He lived his dream
From a very young age Randy Martin had an interest in reading about the World Wars in the family encyclopedia but it wasn't until high school that he actually voiced that he wanted to join the infantry.
The military co-op program was not offered at his high school in Oakville, Ontario. If he was accepted he would have to go to nearby Georgetown but with no vehicle license at the time, his mother questioned how he would get there.
"Mom, don't worry. I will get there somehow," said Randy.
That was one of his philosophies for life - don't worry about things.
His first application to the Canadian Forces was rejected because of poor eyesight. Undeterred, he had laser eye surgery as he was adamant about becoming a soldier and he was not going to let anything stop him.
"Even if I have to go to some small country and join their army (I will)," Randy told his mother.
Determination was one of his strongest qualities."I don't think I have ever seen him happier than the day he was accepted into the army," says Randy's mother Shirley after the long recruitment process. "A close second would be the day he bought his first motorcycle."
By this time he had his license to ride a motorcycle and with a date to start basic training in July of 2002, Randy finally had two of the things in his life he wanted to do more than anything.
- Private Randy Martin in Afghanistan
Randy was a member of the First Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (attached to 3 RCR for the deployment) stationed at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa in the Ottawa Valley. Soon after arriving, he and his unit deployed overseas to Afghanistan as part of Operation Athena (Rotation 0) from August 2003 to February. 2004.
Randy loved playing chess and during basic training (it’s believed) he went undefeated. While in Afghanistan he wrote to his Grandmother;
“In the time I’ve been here so far, I’ve played 28 games of chess and haven’t lost yet. I hope to go undefeated for the whole tour.”
Unsure of his actual overseas chess record, Randy was certainly not defeated by the tour. He returned home and was keen to return to Afghanistan to do the work he had longed to do his whole life, but he wouldn’t get that chance.
Randy was in a terrible motorcycle accident that resulted in serious head trauma and a broken back. Paralyzed, the two things that made him happiest in life – being a soldier and riding his bike – would now be impossible. He died within two years as a result of his condition.
Randy had a great sense of humour and the padre who presided over his service even described it as “wicked.”
“Many people live to be old and can never say that they managed to fulfill their dream in terms of a choice of career and way of life. Randy achieved this,” said Captain Graham Thompson in the eulogy.
While Randy had the tough army side to him, he also had a tender, caring and artistic side as well. He enjoyed drawing, playing card and board games with his family and friends. In his wallet he carried poetry and favoured quotes which included Invictus by William Earnest Henley, The Rifleman by General Omar N. Bradley and a Theodore Roosevelt quote from 1910.
By virtue of its name, a life insurance policy should help the living. As it can no longer help Randy, we know that he would be happy, honoured and proud to know that this money was donated to The Sapper Mike McTeague Wounded Warriors Fund (WoundedWarriors.ca) in his name and memory so that it might benefit his fellow soldiers (his other family) if they become injured in the line of duty.
Love, Mom, Dad and Brother (Shirley, Ed and Lance)
In the memory of their beloved son and brother Randy, the Martin Family have made the single largest private contribution to WoundedWarriors.ca. The fund is honoured and proud to accept this in his name.
