Doc Martin's lifetime of exceptionalism continued during World War II.  While being an instructor at Miner Teachers College, he, like so many other Americans, willingly answered the call to defend their country.  Doc requested a leave of absence from his position with the school to enlist and help the war effort.  Much like the rest of his life, he was again associated with groundbreaking greatness and this time it would take him to the Tuskegee Army Air Field.

Few military units have garnered as much notoriety for their successful heroic actions as the Tuskegee Airmen.  But, that was not a forgone conclusion when Doc Martin joined the military.  The Tuskegee Experiment, as it was known in its early years, built one of the most successful air units in military history.  Doc first arrived at Tuskegee Army Air Field in May of 1942.  He would be promoted to Director of the Ground School in March of 1943 and continue in that role until his untimely death in a military flight in March of 1945.

Several books and movies have been focused on the achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen and routinely focus almost exclusively on the pilots.  Several of those pilots have spoken out about the backbone of their unit being the ground crews and instructors.  The intense and advanced instruction given at Tuskegee was often credited with the overall success.  The ground school courses normally covered engineering, maintenance, armament, gunnery, advanced navigation, and both tactics and techniques of aerial warfare.  These lessons helped the Tuskegee Airmen to fly over 1,500 missions, over 15,000 sorties, while destroying over 260 enemy aircraft.  They also won more than 850 medals. 

Military.com described the unit saying, "the Tuskegee program also forged a group of men who would earn advanced degrees and make notable achievements in the fields of law, social policy, politics, medicine, education, and finance."  One of the most remarkable aspects is that civilian aviation was not a viable career path, due to segregation, at that point and time for the thousands of men and women who were part of the Tuskegee program.  It truly was a collection of some of the best and brightest, much like Doc Martin, who united to help build the successful unit.
 
This unit was so impactful that its members were collectively bestowed a specific and unique medal.  The Smithsonian written description of the medal states "the Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian recognition awarded by the U.S. Congress.  This medal was presented to the Tuskegee Airmen, African American pilots flying for the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.  Awarded on March 29, 2007, the medal recognized their 'unique military record that inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces.'"  The medal itself is "a gold medal featuring three men in profile in the center, with 'Tuskegee Airmen' at top and an eagle with spread wings at the bottom."
 
The impact of Doc Martin and the rest of the Tuskegee Airmen was not simply limited to the battlefield.  "Yet in that moment, a group of determined individuals boldly charted a course that would forever change our nation and our Air Force," said Air Force Maj. Gen. Darren McDew.  "We look with pride to the extraordinary impact you have made on our nation; your legendary skills in combat; your strength of character in the face of bias and ignorance; and your remarkable contribution to the integration of the armed services."  The National Museum of the United States Air Force describes the lasting impact with the following.  "When the U.S. Air Force became a separate service in 1947, it benefited directly from the experience of the Tuskegee Airmen.  The USAF was the first service to erase the color line, thanks largely to the pioneering efforts and courageous legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen."

In March of 1945, Maj. Doc Martin was killed when the military flight he was on crashed in North Carolina.  He was subsequently buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.  His life, while only 46 years long, was one of unbelievable triumph and accomplishment.  While at Norwich University he was a shining example of what it meant to be a Cadet and was enthusiastically engaged in a wide range of activities.  After graduation he continued to use his experiences from Norwich to enrich thousands of lives as a college coach, college administrator, and eventually a college instructor.  Then, he joined the long line of Norwich graduates who not only served their country but brought distinction to the military through their service.