If you asked me one word to describe Jim Martin, it would have to be humble.

Most of us know of Pee Wee (a nick name he proudly embraced) from the popular HBO WWII miniseries Band of Brothers. He was a member of the 506th Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division known as the Screaming Eagles. We all invited him into our living rooms as we watched the series over and over again. For many of us, too many times to count.

After the war, Pee Wee settled down in Xenia, Ohio, about an hour drive from where I live. Throughout the years, I had the honor of meeting him several times. One of the most memorable was at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (near Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio). He was on the far side of the hangar where the WWII planes were displayed, receiving an award from the museum. Quietly I made my way down to where they were filming.

When they were finished - as is my custom with all veterans - I looked him in the eye, shook his hand and thanked him for his service. He placed his hand over mine and in a quiet voice said “If you volunteer for something and you’re trained for it and you get paid for it, you’re not a hero. It was an honor and a privilege to have been a part of history. Look what I've gained and where I've been, what I have done."

As I said . . . humble.

God bless you Jim on your last “Five Miles Up”.