October 9, 1918: Tributes from Theodore Roosevelt, General Pershing, the Marines, and a school friend

         Tributes to Don Martin came from leading public men. One of the first was from former President Theodore Roosevelt. It was sent special to the New York Herald the day of his death, and published on October 9.

Chicago, Ill, Tuesday – Theodore Roosevelt, just before leaving for New York today, was informed of the death of Don Martin. Mr. Roosevelt was affected visibly. He said: --

“Martin was one of the best and the truest men with whom I have had a close relationship in my experience with the active working men in the newspaper business. I am truly, very truly, sorry to hear of this. He was of that sort that makes it quite worth while for a real man to do his best, efficiently, honestly and thoroughly. Just before I departed from New York on this trip I received a letter from Martin, written from the western front. Martin had made it his personal business to have seen to it that the grave of my boy, Quentin, had been cared for. He enclosed a photograph that he had made himself of the spot and his own story of all that had happened. I am very, very saddened to have such news.”

       The esteem with which Don Martin was held by the leaders of the American Expeditionary Forces is shown in the letter dated October 31. 1918, sent to Don Martin’s mother by the Commander-in-Chief General Pershing [History of Buffalo & Erie County, 1914-1918, Ch. LXXIV, 267-269].

AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES

Office of the Commander-in-Chief

France, October 31, 1918

Dear Mrs. Martin,

     May I offer you my sincere sympathy on the loss of your son and couple with it the hope that you will derive consolation from the manner and circumstances of his death? As well as and faithfully as any soldier he was serving his country on the battlefields of France, and his sacrifice, and yours, are for the land we love.

     He shared the danger and exposure of the troops and did so in fine courage and spirit. His work was of the greatest value to the army which holds him in memory as a comrade. I am proud that he was my friend as I know you are that he was your son.

     Please convey for me to his daughter, your grandchild, a message of gentle sympathy.

Sincerely yours,

(signed) John J. Pershing

      A letter of tribute, dated October 9, came from the United States Marines. This letter was published in the New York Herald on October 14, 1918.

New York City, Oct. 9, 1918

               It was with deep regret that I received the announcement of Mr. Don Martin’s death in France. The end, however, was a fitting one, for he died as he had so honorably lived. The last chapter of his career, work abroad with troops, was of such a character as to firm a glorious climax to the story of his life. I am sure that if Major General Commandant George Barnett, who today arrived in France, were here he would join in the utterance of these sentiments.

               Don Martin has endeared himself to the officers and men of the Marine Corps for the friendly interest that he had shown in the soldiers of the sea, and on looking through a scrapbook of marine clippings, I find his name above many of the most vivid despatches.

               I beg you to convey to the relatives and friends of the late Mr. Martin the heartfelt sympathy of his ardent admirers, the United States Marines.

A.   S. McLEMORE

Colonel, A. A. & I., U. S. M. C

         Also on October 8 a school girl friend wrote a letter, which was published by the New York Herald on October 9.

To the Editor of the Herald:--

          It is with a sharp pang I read in the morning papers of the death of my old friend and schoolmate, Don Martin. I have known Don since I’ve been old enough to know anything. At six years of age we were in our children’s parties together – all through school together and in our school pranks. I remember these particularly well, for Don was politic and escaped, while I – but that’s another story.

          The boy was well loved in his home town, Silver Creek. His musical abilities won him many friends, when but a very tiny little fellow he played in public, his feet dangling from the piano stool. Poor Don was always most sensitive as to his stature. But like most little men he meant to measure big in other ways and this he has done. Since we have to lose him I’m glad he could go in this greatest of struggles. This is as he would have wished it – noble little fellow, and I’m so proud of one of my home boys.

HELEN G. FISH

New York city, Oct. 8, 1918