83rd Division Booklet
The booklet was signed by Pfc. Martin J. Schortje (#32919420) who was with G Company, 331st Infantry Regiment.
Pfc Martin J. Schortje Jr.
Private
Martin J. Schortje Jr.
Private First Class Martin J. Schortje Jr.
Martin John Schortje Jr. was born on September 15, 1923 in Elizabeth, New Jersey to Martin John, Sr. and Barbara (Kuhn) Schortje. He lived in Elizabeth together with his grandparents, aunt and father Martin Sr. The family emigrated sometime before 1914 from Austria-Hungary. Martin Schortje Sr. then served with the US Army during World War One.
Following the end of his high school years, Martin Schortje Jr. entered the Army in 1942. The Morning Report of Company G, 331st Infantry Regiment from August 1, 1944 listed Martin Schortje Jr. as assigned and joined from the 48th Replacement Battalion. At that time, Company G was in the vicinity of La Cardonniere, Brittany, France. He was a decorated veteran of WWII and the Korean Conflict. For his service he was awarded, among other decorations, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Purple Heart Medal and the Bronze Star Medal.
He ended his military carreer as a Sergeant First Class.
Martin Schortje married Mary M. Hines in March 1954, in Newark, New Jersey. After retiring from the Army, Martin and his family moved to New Mexico in 1963, where he started work at the main Lovelace hospital on Gibson. Then he started a new career with the Albuquerque Police Department in their photo lab. Martin brought his many years of experience and expertise as a photographer to the police department. Toward the end of his second career, Martin started his own business, Schortje Photography. Martin John Schortje, Jr., age 93, passed away February 3, 2017 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary (1921–2001).
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