May, Martin (P3, C1, L26)

Chief Warrant Officer Four Martin May, 56, of Owensboro, Daviess County, Kentucky, died of a heart attack at Fort Hood, Texas at Annual Training on 14 March 1975. May, a technician and shop chief of the Owensboro Organizational Maintenance Shop (OMS) was a World War II veteran serving with the 3855th Quartermaster Company serving in the United States and Europe. He enlisted in the Kentucky Army National Guard's Company I, 149th Infantry in Owensboro in October 1946 and continued to serve with the unit as it transitioned to the Headquarters, Headquarters and Service Company of the 201st Engineer Battalion (C).

He was promoted to Master Sergeant in August 1953 and became a Warrant Officer in June 1954. May served in Korea from September 1951 to December 1952 and later with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 2nd Medium Tank Battalion of the 123rd Armor when the Owensboro's unit designation changed again. He served on Active Duty with his unit during the Berlin Crisis from October 1961 to August 1962.

May was awarded the Legion of Merit posthumously. His other awards and decorations include: World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Kentucky Commendation Ribbon, Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal, Kentucky State Active Duty Ribbon and 30 Year Faithful Service Plaque.

Page 6 Section A Owensboro KY Messenger and Inquirer Sunday, June 19, 1955
Left Photo - DOZER DOCTOR - Pvt. Phillip G. Durham and Sgt. Joseph F. Crowe Jr. probe the workings of the master clutch on a D-7 bulldozer, a $14,000 piece of machinery that is one of the mainstays of any engineer outfit. There are smaller and larger dozers, but this model has proved its all-around usefulness with engineer units around the globe.

Center Photo - CABLE STRINGERS - Pvt Joseph CcKay, Sgt. Clarence Fairchild and Pvt. Charles Roberts start to work installing the operating cables on the boom of a new 20-ton mobile crane just arrived from Bowman Field, Louisville. W.O. (j.g.) Martin May, equipment platoon leader for Headquarters Company of the 201st, keeps an eye on the work.

Right Photo - HALT, GRADER - W.O. (j.g.) Martin May maneuvers a motorized grader onto a lowboy for the trip to (Camp) Breckenridge, where plenty of road work is waiting to be done. The unit's sole lowboy will have to be brought back here to pick up the bulldozer. The 201st has some 26 pieces of rolling equipment here that will go to camp with them.

National Guard Officer Dies at Ft. Hood

Unknown undated newspaper clipping

Martin May, 56, chief warrant officer at the Owensboro National Guard Armory, died suddenly late Friday of an apparent heart attack at Ft. Hood, Texas, where he was attending annual field training.

May, of . . . Greenbrier St., was born Nov. 1, 1918, in Daviess County, a son of Mrs. Mary Maggie Trodgen May of Philpot and the late William Lee May.

A veteran of World War II, the Korean conflict and the Berlin crisis, he served 34 years in the service and was a member of Precious Blood Catholic Church.

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Officer Given Posthumous Legion of Merit award

Unknown undated newspaper clipping

The second highest service award the U.S. Army can bestow, the Legion of Merit award, was presented posthumously Saturday to the late Chief Warrant Officer Martin May.

Brig. Gen. William E. Hall, assistant adjutant general of the U.S. Army National guard, presented the award to May's widow, Marguerite May of 723 Greenbriar St. in a brief ceremony at the Daviess County home of her son-in-law, Sgt. Louis A. Conder.

May died of a heart attack March 14 on the first day of summer training camp in Ft. Hood, Tex.

A veteran of 32, May was the automotive maintenance technician for the Second Battalion, 123rd armored division, Kentucky National Guard, based in Owensboro. He was served on active duty in World War II, the Korean war and during the Berlin crisis in 1961.

"During his service on active duty and all periods in the Army National Guard of Kentucky, he displayed exceptional capability and outstanding dedication to complete all assigned tasks and responsibilities in a truly outstanding manner," Hall said.

The Legion of Merit medal is seldom presented to a serviceman not on active duty. Requirements for the award stipulate that the candidate display "outstandingly meritorious service in succession of important positions."