Biography: Philip L. “Moki” Martin

Philip L. “Moki” Martin
Lieutenant (03E), United States Navy, Retired

Philip L. “Moki” MARTIN was born on Sept. 16, 1942, on the Hawaiian Island of Maui. He graduated from Maui High School in 1960 and received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Occupational Education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1983. In 1991, Moki graduated, cum laude, from San Diego State University with a Bachelors of Arts in Arts and Letters (Painting and Photography emphasis).

Martin enlisted in the Navy in 1960 and attended Boot Camp at RTC, San Diego. He then graduated from Machinist’s Mate “A” School at SSC, NTC, Great Lakes, Illinios. In 1961, Moki was assigned to the destroyer, USS ORLECK (DD-886), stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. In 1964, he was transferred to another destroyer, USS EVERSOLE (DD-789), also stationed in Yokosuka, Japan.

MM2 Martin volunteered for Underwater Demolition Team Replacement training and reported to UDTRA Class 35 in early 1965 at NAB, Coronado, Calif. Following graduation of UDTRA in September 1965, Martin was assigned to Underwater Demolition Team Twelve, 4th Platoon, at Coronado. During UDT-12’s team deployment to WESTPAC, MM2 Martin made several tours to the Republic of South Vietnam: USS DIACHENKO (APD-123); Frogsville, Naval Support Activity, Camp Tien SHA, Danang; and Naval Support Detachment, Chu Lai, RSVN.

In April 1967, MM1 Martin again volunteered and reported to SEAL Cadre Training for duty in SEAL Team ONE, NAB, Coronado. From 1967 through August of 1972, Martin made three additional combat tours to Vietnam: Alpha Platoon (‘67), Delta Platoon (’68-69), and Alpha Platoon (‘72), Okinawa and aboard USS GRAYBACK (LPSS-574). In 1970, MM1 Martin served as Leading Petty Officer to a four-man SEAL Mobile Training Team (MTT 2-70) assigned to the Joint US Military Advisory Group, Bangkok, Thailand. Martin also served as SEAL Team ONE Cadre (SEAL Basic Indoctrination) Instructor, SEAL Advanced Training (SAT) Instructor and was a member of the Navy Parachute Team (Leap Frogs).

Martin was promoted to Chief Machinist Mate in June of 1971. On June 1, 1972, MMC Martin was appointed a Warrant Officer (WO1 – Machinist) in the wardroom of USS GRAYBACK (LPSS-574) under ninety feet of water on the bottom of the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of North Vietnam.

WO1 MARTIN was transferred in September of 1972 to USS BUCHANAN (DDG-14) stationed at Naval Station San Diego. While aboard BUCHANAN, Martin served as Electrical and “E” Division Officer, Machinery Maintenance Officer (MMO) and assistant “M” and “B” Division Officer. In June of 1974, WO1 Martin was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2 (Machinist). Martin made his final tour to Vietnam on BUCHANAN in 1974.

In January 1976, CWO2 Martin reported for duty to the Basic Underwater Demolition/ SEAL (BUD/S) Training Department of the US Naval Amphibious School, NAB Coronado. Martin served as assistant Land Warfare Training Officer and Weapons Officer. In October of 1977, CWO2 Martin was selected as Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Limited Duty Officer (LDO) Machinery Repair. Six months later, Lt. j.g. Martin augmented to Lieutenant (Junior Grade), USN, Naval Special Warfare Officer (1130).

In April of 1978, Lt. j.g. Martin was assigned to Underwater Demolition Team Eleven at NAB Coronado. Martin served as Weapons Department Officer and Nuclear Safety Officer before attending and graduating from Swimmer Delivery Vehicle School at BUD/S Training Department. In October of 1979, Lt. j.g. Martin was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, 1130 / USN. Lt. Martin was then assigned to 5th Platoon (SDV) as the second of three officers and deployed to Naval Special Warfare Unit One at Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. Martin became 5th Platoon Commander and conducted Swimmer Delivery Vehicle training with USS GRAYBACK (SS-574), deployed SEAL platoons and joint U.S. and foreign military Special Operation Forces in both Subic Bay and Korea.

In July of 1980, Lt. Martin reported to the staff of Naval Special Warfare Group One at NAB Coronado. He was assigned to the Logistics department (N4) as the diving officer (N41), and Swimmer Delivery Vehicle Facility (IMA) Officer.

Lt. Martin was injured while riding his bicycle to Imperial Beach early one morning in October 1982. He was subsequently medically discharged from active naval service in May 1983.

Lt. Philip L. “Moki” Martin’s military awards includes two Bronze Star Medals with Combat “V”, two Navy Commendation Medals with Combat “V”, Combat Action Ribbon, three Presidential Unit Citations, a Navy Unit Citation, two Meritorious Unit Citations, two Good Conduct Awards, and various and sundry campaign and marksmanship ribbons and medals. He is authorized to wear the Naval Special Warfare device (SEAL “Trident”) and the U.S. Navy senior parachute jump wings. Martin has earned jump wings from the Republic of Vietnam and the Royal Thailand Navy.

Lt. Martin continues to be involved with Naval Special Warfare by serving as race director for the annual Naval Special Warfare SUPERFROG Triathlon at Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, an event he started in 1978. He also lectures on “Lessons Learned in Vietnam” for the Strategy and Tactics Department Junior Officer training course at the Naval Special Warfare Center.

In April of 2001, the U.S. Navy and Naval Special Warfare Command honored Lt. Martin by dedicating the new Advanced SEAL Delivery System Maintenance building in SEAL Delivery Team ONE’s base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to him.

Martin resides in Coronado with Cindy, his wife of forty years. His son Joel is a professional photographer in Los Angeles. His nineteen-year-old daughter, Callie, attends Dominican University in San Raphael, Calif. Philip Martin is an award-winning artist who maintains a fine art studio in his home.