Colonel (Ret) Martin Weaver is a life-long Republican who grew up in Southern Indiana where his Mother was a precinct vice-committeeman in West Baden. Along with Mom, he polled precincts, worked the polls, attended party central committee meetings, and manned the GOP Headquarters in support of Barry Goldwater in 1964.
Martin’s Dad ran unsuccessfully for the State Senate in 1968, but Martin was immersed in the campaign attending rallies, speeches, and putting up signs everywhere in the district.
Following high school, Martin attended Indiana State University where he majored in political science. At State, he joined the college republicans later becoming the club’s President. TerreHaute and VigoCounty’s unique political landscape was tough after coming from a strong republican county. This democratic enclave made every Republican work harder for success. Martin went door-to-door registering voters and fighting for republican candidates. The GOP elected a two-term Mayor of Terre Haute, Vigo County Sheriff, Circuit Court Judge, City Judge, and CountyProsecutor. Republicans have not enjoyed such success in VigoCounty since.
Martin believed that he would be needed in Vietnam so he joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). It was there that Martin realized his dream of flying, and learning how to lead soldiers. Martin reluctantly put politics aside when he was assigned to FortKnox, Kentucky for Tank Officer Basic Training, and after that ArmyFlight School.
Fewer pilots were needed for Vietnam by the time Martin was ready for assignment, so he volunteered to fl
y gun ships in Korea where he flew daily border patrol near the DMZ in a Cobra Attack Helicopter. After nearly five-years on active duty, he returned to civilian life and various sales positions back home in Indiana, but he wanted to continue flying so, he joined the Indiana Army National Guard.
In the Guard, Martin commanded aviation units, and received real leadership experience as an infantry company, battalion, and finally as an infantry brigade commander responsible for over four thousand soldiers. Additionally, he has served in senior level staff positions culminating in his assignment as Director of Plans, Operations, Training, and Military Support for the entire Indiana Army Guard. Martin’s career has been thirty years of learning to organize, motivate, and lead large numbers of people toward a common goal.
Though he retired from the Guard in June 2002, Martin intends continue living up to the oath he took thirty years ago to preserve, protect, and defend the United States Constitution. Therefore, working again with fellow Republicans, and speaking out in support of core Republican values is his next assignment.
The military philosopher, Count Carl Von Clausewitz, said that “war was just politics by another means.” Then isn’t politics just war by another means? Colonel (Ret) Martin Weaver’s experience in organizing, motivating, and leading soldiers in important endeavors is relevant to the GOP Army. We are in a war of ideals. Our opponents are well supplied, organized, and led. We must fight back, even if outnumbered, and win.
Martin Weaver now lives in Martinsville, Indiana, and he is married to Morgan Superior Court Judge, Jane Spencer Craney. He has two sons. Andy, a Captain, served with the Indiana National Guard in Bosnia, and he recently returned from the war in Iraq where he earned the combat infantry badge and a bronze star. Andy now lives in Indianapolis. Ben is an Indiana University graduate living in Portland, Oregon.
When not politicking, Martin is a DC-9 Super-Eighty Captain for American Airlines at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, and he sells real estate for Town & Country Realty in Martinsville, and is the sales and community relations manager for Morgan Hospital and Medical Center.