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Retired Air Force Col. Martin J. Zickert, chairman of the Veteran’s Council of Indian River County, visits Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary in Vero Beach.
BY KERRY FIRTH
The energy field surrounding retired Col. Martin J.
Zickert mirrors the force of the F4 Phantom fighter jet
he flew in the Air Force. Retirement hasn’t slowed him
down, as he embraces each day with a sense of adventure
and a quest to do something that can change someone else’s
life. His life story reads like an action novel full of chance
encounters, leaps of faith and opportunities seized.
Born and raised in a small Wisconsin farming town with
a population of 954, Zickert grew up playing baseball — the
sport that opened the door to his military career.
Having played college baseball for two years at St. Paul
University, he was signed by the Milwaukee Braves and assigned
to one of its minor league teams as a catcher.
“I was one year behind legendary catcher Joe Torre and
he was so good I quickly realized that I didn’t have a prayer
of advancing, so I left and started a roofing crew,” Zickert
explained. “One day it rained and one of the guys told me
about an Air Force program called Aviation Cadets. All you
needed was two years of college and the ability to pass their
test and they would send you to flight school where you
could get your wings and a commission. So, we took the test.
I passed. He didn’t.”
Zickert enlisted and went to San Antonio for eight weeks
of training. After graduation, he ran the physical training
program for about 300 airmen while waiting for his assignment
to flight school. During this time a baseball coach
encouraged Zickert to delay assignment and play baseball
for the Air Force.
“I remember him saying — ‘Son, you can always become
an officer, but you can’t always play baseball for the Air
Force,’ ” Zickert recalled. “I thought it sounded like fun so I
delayed my assignment and played ball. That one decision
changed the course of my entire career.”
After an incredible season with a 95-8 record, Zickert was
assigned to flight school.
“My very first week in flight school a sergeant walked by
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