The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-01-16
BOB MARTIN is AWARDED
SUM OF 500 MONTHLY
A. E. F. Boxer Gets Award for
Injuries in Fights Overseas

lKJuTleS HI rights overseas
CHARLESTON, Jan blob Mar
tin, former West Virginia boxer, who
battled his way to the boxing cham
pionship of the A. E. F. during the
World War, has been granted COM
pensation by the federal government
upon a claim based upon injuries
suffered in the ring
Captain C. M. Jones, state service
officer, announced here today the
West Virginia fighter has been
awarded compensation of 500 a
month for life by the United States
Veterans bureau for permanent disa-
bility caused principally by the bat
tering received in so fstic encounters
while in the service. .,''
Jones, who pressed Martins claim
for compensation before the veterans
bureau, submitted to it record of
Martins fights for the purpose of
showing that the boxers disability
was due to the many blows he had
received in the ring Jones said the
West Virginian had participated in a
total of so boxing bouts while in the
service, winning Sd by knockouts,
four by decisions, losing one and get
ting draw in the other.
Has Brain TumOr
Martin for several years has been
suffering from traumatic brain tumor,
Jones said, and has not been able to
support himself or his family. Two
years ago congress passed pension
bill allowing him 500 a month, which
he has relinquished by accepting the
larger compensation. The former
fighter also has received state aid,
the receipts from few benefit box
ing matches and funds from a boxing
association.
The ex-soldier-fghter was placed
on temporary total disability rat
ing August z, 1928, by the govern
ment which allowed 500 monthly on
that basis until October 5, 1929.
The rating as of January II, 1880,
places him as totally disabled for
life with the same monthly amount.
Martin will now receive 81 800 back
pay dating from August Z, 1928,
Jones said.
In his statement to H. G. Hooks,
manager of the Charleston regional
Office of the United States Veterans
bureau, Jones listed more than a
dozen fighters who had punished Mar
tin severely in the army fights.
In 80 Fights
In the qualification fights for the
A. E. F. championship Martin fought
80 contestants, defeating % by knock
outs and four by decisions, Jones' list
showed. In the fight with Fay Kiser
at Cirque de Paris, France, April 26,
1919, for the championship, Jones
said According to authorities on
fighting and sport writer's, this was a
specially hard fight, and the claim
ants opponent rendered blow after
blow on the claimants head. 1t seems
to me that it is reasonable to pre-
sumo that this fight was the Begin
ming of the claimants present disa-
bility."
The only one of the go fights that
Martin lost, according to Jones' re-
port, was one with Gene Tunney. The
fight that was declared a draw was
that with Sergeant Ray Smith. Both
these battles were fought on French
soil.
After leaving the army Martin
participated in several bouts, but
appeared unable to continue the pace
he set in the army and after a few
years dropped out of the game
Martin, whose home was at Terra
Alta, Preston county, for some time,
has been living at Nitro, near here.
He is brother of Alvey R. Martin, of
Oakland.