James Russell Martin, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired), age 66, died Saturday, January 25, 2020 at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. Services will be at 1pm on Thursday, January 30, 2020 at the Cutshall Funeral Home in Iuka with Bro. Dyer Harbor and Bro. Jimmy Daniel officiated. Burial will be in Mount Evergreen Cemetery. Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka is entrusted with the arrangements. Visitation will be from 5pm until 8pm, on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at Cutshall Funeral Home in Iuka. He is survived by two sisters, Joanie Lambert and husband Charles, and Celisa Harwood and husband Marlon, all of Iuka; two nieces, Mechele Drewry (Barry) of Corinth and Kaylee Comer of Iuka; two nephews, Chris Lambert (Jennifer) of Savannah, TN and Logan Comer of Iuka; and four great-nieces, Morgan and Meagan Drewry and Krystyn and Kayde Lambert. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Earl and Eula Faye Martin of Iuka, his paternal grandparents, Fred and Bernie Martin and maternal grandparents, Pete and Emma Wadkins, and one niece, Chastinie Nicole Comer, all of Iuka. Pallbearers will be Chris Lambert, Logan Comer, Lanny Gasaway, Buzz Sanderson, Dwight Wadkins, and Dale Williams. Colonel Martin retired from the United States Army after 31 years of combined active duty and Army Reserve service. His military career spanning three decades began just as the war in Vietnam was ending, continued throughout the last decade of “the Cold War” and came to a close seven years into the ongoing Global War on Terrorism. His service included tours in Germany and Korea, and at several stateside posts. He served in various command and staff positions in the Field Artillery, including as Executive Officer and Fire Support Officer with the Second Infantry Division in Korea, while assigned to the northernmost artillery battalion closest to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with two tours at the only operational active fire support base in the army at the time. In Germany he served as Commanding Officer and Operations Officer with the 59th Ordnance Brigade. In these positions he worked closely with both the German and Dutch armies as counterparts in fulfilling their missions as members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Other assignments included Platoon Leader, Fire Support Team Chief, Resource Management Officer, and Assistant Professor of Military Science. He received several awards of the Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Meritorious Service Medal, among many others. He spent his last 9 years of active duty as a disability adjudicator in Washington, DC. He retired in 2006 but was recalled to active duty in 2007 to provide leadership in improving the conditions for wounded warriors at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He permanently retired in 2008. In retirement he loved spending time with his nieces and nephews and four great-nieces. He was a graduate of the University of Mississippi (BPA 76), Jacksonville State University (MPA 87), and the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College. He was a member of many military and veterans’ organizations including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Veterans (AMVETS), and the Disabled American Veterans. He was a member of the Oakland Baptist Church in Corinth, Mississippi. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mount Evergreen Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 883, Iuka, MS 38852. An online guestbook can be accessed at www.cutshallfuneralhome.com.
