Veterans Corner: Army veteran Bruce Martin recounts Desert Storm, praises Monmouth County veteran services

Sue Kiley, deputy director of the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners and liaison to aging, disabilities and veterans, introduced a Veterans Corner segment featuring US Army veteran Bruce Martin, who described his military service and interactions with county veteran services.

Martin recounted enlisting in the Alabama National Guard in 1975, later serving on active duty in the regular Army and deploying with units that were identified for Desert Storm. He described being briefed by senior staff in August 1990 when his unit — the 920th Transportation Company referenced in his remarks — was identified as deployable. Martin said his unit was the only unit from the 78th that deployed from that division and noted the unit’s lineage dating back to World War II.

Discussing later deployments, Martin said he served as a company commander and described the start of the ground invasion during Iraqi Freedom: "It was a sandstorm. You couldn't see 5 to 10 feet in front of you. I had to drive by each vehicle and get a head count of all the soldiers because I wanted to make sure how many soldiers I was bringing up into Iraq." He told the program that he has used the Monmouth County veteran service office and called the staff "very professional" and "very good at what they do," praising an employee he named as Anna for helping him with documents to support VA benefits.

Kiley and Martin noted the importance of local veteran services in helping former service members assemble records and apply for compensation; Martin said he had taken records and awards to the office and that staff assisted him through the process. The segment did not announce any changes to county veterans policy or new programs.

The county’s Veterans Corner concluded with thanks for Martin’s service and an acknowledgment that the county will continue outreach and support for veterans through its existing veteran service office.