New Bedford mayor pays visit to Colonel Joe Martin who turns 100-years-old

“I paid a visit to a long time family friend, Colonel Joe Martin, who turns 100 years old this week. Joe served for forty years in the Army National Guard in various field artillery units.

During WWII, he fought with distinction in Normandy and at the Battle of Bulge. Although they were in different units during the war, Joe and my maternal grandfather John Kinney served in the same battalion after the war, and were close friends (I learned today in fact that Joe still has my grandfather’s foot locker).

Joe looks and sounds great, and I was thrilled that his family invited me to be part of his birthday celebration.”-Jon Mitchell.