By Joe Morey
News Editor
Vern Martin, an esteemed member of our community, embodies the spirit of service and dedication. Born in 1941, Vern is a proud veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. However, his service to his nation did not end when he hung up his uniform. He seamlessly transitioned from military service to community service, dedicating the better part of his life to making our community a better place for everyone.
“I’ve been carrying the flags ever since I got out of the military,” Vern explained. “After my divorce, I started to follow the traditional ways.”
Anytime you attend an event at Lac Courte Oreilles and other places, including powwows, you’ll find Vern as part of the Honor Guard that carries in the military and tribal flags. Up to just a year ago, he served as commander of AmVets Post 1992. He said he stepped aside as commander because of his hearing.
“I didn’t feel comfortable with it, so I had to give it away,” noted Vern. He explained that his wife of 30 years, Ellen Martin, hears better than he does so she has been a great help for him, telling him what’s going on when they are out and about.
“We make a great team that way, and we haven’t touched a drop of alcohol together in all those 30 years,” Vern said.
His community service goes beyond that of AmVets, as being part of a team with his wife, Ellen is chair of the LCO Elder’s Association, an integral part of the LCO community for their volunteerism, organizing of elder activities and charitable donations to youth and other events from their own fundraising.
Vern grew up in the Whitefish community of the LCO Reservation. He went to school through the sixth grade there and then his family moved to New Post for a year as his father was a Reservation police officer.
“My mom didn’t like it in Post, so we moved back to Whitefish,” he recalled.
Vern’s parents were James Martin Sr and Susan “Coon” Martin. His older siblings included James Martin Jr “Buckshot” (US Army), Francis “Chuck” (US Army), George (US Air Force), Ruth Vivian Mills. His younger siblings included Carolyn “Karen” Isham, Rose Anderson and Robert (US Marine Corp).
Vern has fond memories of his childhood, which he said was great to grow up in Whitefish. He said he has only one friend from back then left living, Dick McClaine who lives in Las Vegas now. He recalled some of those old friends as Tom Bracklin, Tom “Bucky” Papish, Donald Mustache, to name a few.
Vern said he lived in a log house at the corner of Hwy E and Potato Road. A few of the things he and his friends did back then were to ski on Jesring Hill and they would do a lot of ice skating on an area they had cleared for a place on Whitefish Lake. The school they went to was on the lake just a half mile west on County Hwy E but is no longer there. He said they used to go swimming there at the school too.
He recalled a couple of other friends who used to hang out with him at the school as Burt Quaderer and John Schultz.
“When I first moved back up here from Milwaukee as an adult, I drew a map of Whitefish because I knew everyone who lived in the community and where they were,” Vern stated.
Vern graduated from Hayward in 1960 and went to work with Community Action. It was in 1962 when he joined the Air Force, leaving in 1966. He was in the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard for another 9 years.
Vern was married to Sandra Leah Decorah from Ho Chunk for 19 years and they divorced. He was single for three years and then met his current wife, Ellen.
Some of the jobs he held prior to moving back to Lac Courte Oreilles included Uniroyal where he spent 13 years and then 10 years with Job Service with the state of Wisconsin. He spent 20 years time working in Minneapolis and in Milwaukee with the U.S. Dept of Labor as well.
He moved to Milwaukee with his second wife, Ellen, who had met at a powwow. He said she taught him to two-step and, “that was how it all started.”
After coming back to Lac Courte Oreilles, Vern worked part time at the college in the cultural department with Cody Enoch. He taught drumming and singing. He recalls they had a drum built by Bill Baker that was destroyed and that he and Mike Sullivan and a few others put it back together.
“They are still using it at the college,” he said.
Vern then went to work at the LCO Halfway House back in the 2000’s at which time he recalled being hesitant but learned that they are a great bunch of guys there who would take care of you and protect you.
“After the halfway house closed I still took care of the place even after there weren’t any residents because neighborhood kids would come around and mess with the place,” Vern said.
Vern said his hobbies now include going to powwows, singing and dancing. He said every weekend we were going someplace in the Midwest or Canada. He recalled Ellen and himself going to New York in their RV for a powwow one year.
Another hobby includes riding his motorcycle. He’s had a cycle for the past 12 years and took it to Sturgis back in 2012. He said about 15 of them went there that year.
Words of advice Vern would give to the young people today is to get educated, stay away from drugs and alcohol. “It sounds like fun when you’re doing it, but it’s not.”
Vern's dedication to community service has not gone unnoticed. He and his wife, Ellen, have been a major part of elder activities. In addition to chairing the LCO Elder’s Association, she also ran the Great Lakes Native American Association for elders for 8 years.
Vern Martin's life is a testament to the enduring power of service, both in the military and in the community. His tireless volunteerism and unwavering commitment to helping others have made a lasting impact, inspiring all who know him. Vern is not just a veteran, but a true hero whose legacy of service continues to enrich our lives.
In the pics above, the Whitefish School with Vern and Tom Bracklin, and also Sylvia Bracklin sitting on the steps.