U.S. Army veteran Bruce Martin recounts deployments, praises Monmouth County veterans service office

Bruce Martin, a U.S. Army veteran who said he served "36 and a half" years and earned the rank of colonel, recounted deployments from the Cold War era through Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom and praised the Monmouth County Veterans Service office for assistance with his VA benefits.

The interview, conducted by Sue Kiley, Deputy Director of the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners and liaison to the Division of Aging, Disabilities and Veterans on the Monmouth in Focus Veterans Corner program, focused on Martin’s military career and his experience using county services. Kiley introduced Martin as a Hazlet resident and veteran with decades of service.

Martin described enlisting in the Alabama National Guard in January 1975 to help pay for college and later transferring to active duty. "I shipped for basic training to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri," he said, recounting a basic training period he described as "a little over eight weeks." He described overseas service in Germany from 1976 to 1978 with the 30th Field Artillery and a later reassignment to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he served as a training brigade NCO.

Discussing combat-era deployments, Martin said his 920 Transportation Company at Fort Monmouth was identified for potential deployment in August 1990. He said he was briefed by senior logistics, personnel and intelligence officers and that his unit ultimately was the only unit from the 78th identified to deploy. "We were the first unit out of the 78th to go in combat since World War Two," Martin said.

Martin also recounted serving as a company commander and later as deputy G3 operations officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He described preparation for a February ground invasion and the difficulties of operating during a sandstorm: "It was a sandstorm. You couldn't see 5 to 10 ft in front of you," he said, adding that he personally checked vehicles and took head counts to ensure accountability.

When Kiley asked whether he used county veteran services, Martin said he did and described the local office staff as helpful. "It was excellent," he said of the Monmouth County Veterans Service office and praised an employee identified as Anna for professionalism and assistance with benefits paperwork. He said he has referred other service members to the office because of that positive experience.

Kiley closed the segment by thanking Martin for his service and encouraging viewers to use veterans services in Monmouth County.

The program did not record any formal votes or policy decisions; it served as an informational interview and community outreach segment.