World War Two Veteran Starts over at 104 after Losing Home in Palisades Fire
"I'm in shock, I'm still in shock," Martin shared, with the quiet resolve of someone who has seen much but never this. For 55 years, the walls of his home were more than a shelter—they were storytellers. They bore witness to decades of laughter, storms weathered, and the soft, steady rhythm of a life well-lived where he saw blessings upon blessings until flames turned them silent.
The Fire Tore through Martin’s Community
The Pacific Palisades fire tore through Martin’s community with a merciless speed, “fanned by dry vegetation and unrelenting winds.” The blaze consumed over 23,000 acres, leaving heartbreak in its wake. “I look out the window and see embers,” Martin recalled, his voice steady but weighted. “So we grabbed what we could get quickly, in five minutes, threw it in the car, and just got out of there with the clothes on our back.”
This man survived the landing at Normandy, a hero honored with France’s Legion of Honor medal for his bravery. And yet, as Martin admitted, “I’d say this is a much worse disaster than anything I could conceive of.”
His niece Debbie put words to what so many who know Martin feel: “He would give you the shirt off his back, and my heart, it’s just broken over this fire and being displaced and all that’s gone on. It’s just horrible,” she commented.
Martin Will Be Starting over after Losing His Home in the Fire
There’s something almost sacred about how Martin carries himself—steady, unyielding, even as the storms rage. For his 100th birthday, his Malibu community came together to honor him. The following year, France itself stood in gratitude as Martin received its highest honor. And yet, when the fire swept through, Martin didn’t dwell on what he had lost.
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Originally published February 05, 2025.
