Apr 17, 2008

Wm. David Martin, son of Vice Admiral W.I. “Bill” Martin, visited his father’s hometown of Ava last weekend. It was his first time in Ava since 1958. David Martin was in the Ozarks to attend a Vietnam veterans reunion in Branson, and made the drive to Ava with wife, Annee, in hopes of visiting with folks who had known his father. An impromptu gathering was organized for 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Ava’s Bill Martin Memorial Airport, appropriately named for Adm. Martin, whose honors include induction into the Naval Aviation Hall of Fame, along with notables such as astronaut Wally Schirra. David Martin attended a reunion of his Seabee battalion of which he was company commander in Vietnam in 1967-68. About 20 people gathered at the airport Sunday, including members of the recently organized squadron of the Civil Air Patrol who provided a formal reception. The hour or so meeting included sharing of stories, looking over an extensive family tree with a relative, Frank Ellis, of Ava, and perusing a collection of memorabilia. On Monday, Martin would visit the Ava Community Center where a collection of his father’s awards are displayed, the Douglas County Museum, and other places of interest in the community. Martin had wanted to visit Brown’s Cave, of which he had often heard his father speak, but felt it would likely be impossible due to recent flooding and high water. Martin did have an opportunity, on Sunday, to hear and share what he referred to as “Rudy stories” with the late Rudy Kester’s niece, Marilyn Kester Alms. After spending Monday in Ava, Martin and his wife, caught a plane in Springfield Monday afternoon for the return trip to their home in Monterey, Calif.