He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, to Martin and Maude Carolyn McCoy. He grew up in Colo, a small town 40 miles northwest of Des Moines, where he mowed yards for extra money, charging 25 to 75 cents per yard. After Martin graduated from Colo High School in 1941 he enrolled at Iowa State University where he majored in mechanical engineering, joined ROTC, and signed up for the reserves. He was called up into the U.S. Army in April of 1943, and sent to Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas. He went on to gunnery school in Harlingen, Texas. Excelling in classes, he was sent to instructor school, then was returned to Harlingen as an instructor. After six months Martin requested (and was given) duty as an engineer in a B-24 crew. After serving at bases near Casper, Wyoming, and Pueblo, Colorado, he was assigned to the 11^th Air Force and sent to Elmendorf Field in Anchorage, Alaska, and then to Shemya. He began flying bombing missions, many lasting at least ten hours, over the Kurl Islands in northern Japan. Martin was discharged in April of 1946. Returning to Iowa State, he earned his engineering degree in 1948. He notes that many others in his group that went to Sheppard Field also returned to the school and graduated that same year. Martin married Cora Ellis on June 19, 1948. They have one son. Martin went into the oil business, becoming a division mechanical engineer with Conoco. He retired in 1987.