Alan Craig Martin, Jr. was born on July 1, 1946, in Nova Scotia, Canada. He was the son of Alan Craig Martin and Sarah Niculena (Lena) Husklinson Martin.

At the time of his death, Alan was serving as a Sergeant in the 50th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 314th Tactical Airlift Wing. He was killed in a landing accident of a Lockheed C130 Hercules military transport aircraft attempting to land at Chuan Kang Air Base in Taiwan.

On March 8, 1969, a United States Air Force Lockheed C-130E Hercules (#64-0545) from the 314th Tactical Airlift Wing crashed in poor weather at Ching Chuan Kang Airbase in Taichung, Taiwan, following a flight from Vietnam. The pilot reportedly was ordered to divert to Kadena Air Base in Japan; however, the Hercules orbited the airfield for an hour before attempting a landing. While on final approach, the aircraft experienced fuel starvation. The Hercules came in to the right of the runway, its right wing tip making contact and shearing off the wing. The aircraft flipped onto its back and came to a rest inverted. A fire burned through the cabin of the aircraft. Nine personnel were killed in the post-crash fire. Three survivors were medivacked but died on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of March. The lost personnel were COL Ralph A. Cone, LTC Paul E. Garrett, MAJ William J. Griffin (died 03/14/1969), TSGT John W. Israel, MAJ Warren L. Long, SGT Alan C. Martin Jr., SSGT Barry W. Murtaugh, SGT Eugene Pizzino II (died 03/16/1969), MAJ Raymond L. Tacke, MSGT William B. Terry, SSGT Gordon L. Wheeler, and SSGT Robert L. Wilson (died 03/15/1969). The twelve airmen had their names added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. in May 1986.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.vvmf.org, (coffeltdatabase.org, aviation-safety.net, baaa-acro.com, and information provided by Allen R. Wood (March 2010) at c-130hercules.net)