Martin R. Steele Interviews

Martin "Marty" R. Steele was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 15, 1946, and grew up in Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas.

He earned a B.A. in history from the University of Arkansas. Steele later earned master's degrees in public administration, international relations, and international security affairs.

Steele enlisted as a Marine in 1965. During his thirty-five year career, he completed two tours in Vietnam and later served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Steele steadily rose up the military ranks, ultimately becoming a lieutenant general. Among the many honors Steele earned are the Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Navy Commendation Medal with gold star; and the Combat Action Ribbon. He served as the president and CEO of Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

Video

Audio

Transcripts

Composite image of early photo of Martin "Marty" R. Steele and still frame from Pryor Center video interview © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#1: Composite image of early photo of Martin "Marty" R. Steele and still frame from Pryor Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty Steele (right) with his uncle, Bob Steele; Fletcher Street home in Fort Smith, Arkansas, ca. 1953 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#2: Marty Steele (right) with his uncle, Bob Steele; Fletcher Street home in Fort Smith, Arkansas, ca. 1953
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty Steele with his sister, Susan Steele; Fort Smith, Arkansas, ca. 1953 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#3: Marty Steele with his sister, Susan Steele; Fort Smith, Arkansas, ca. 1953
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty Steele's father, Richard "Dick" Dunlap Steele, in a World War II plane © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#4: Marty Steele's father, Richard "Dick" Dunlap Steele, in a World War II plane
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty Steele's ninth-grade class, St. Joseph's Catholic School, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 1960–1961 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#5: Marty Steele's ninth-grade class, St. Joseph's Catholic School, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 1960–1961
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty Steele (1st row, center) and the St. Joseph's Catholic School football team, Fayetteville, Arkansas © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#6: Marty Steele (1st row, center) and the St. Joseph's Catholic School football team, Fayetteville, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty Steele, Fayetteville High School yearbook, <i>The Amethyst</i>, 1962 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#7: Marty Steele, Fayetteville High School yearbook, The Amethyst, 1962
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty Steele (far right), vice president, with the Fayetteville High School junior-class officers, ca. 1963 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#8: Marty Steele (far right), vice president, with the Fayetteville High School junior-class officers, ca. 1963
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty Steele, number 12 (1st row, left), Fayetteville High School football team, 1962 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#9: Marty Steele, number 12 (1st row, left), Fayetteville High School football team, 1962
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty Steele, Fayetteville High School yearbook, <i>The Amethyst</i>, 1963 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#10: Marty Steele, Fayetteville High School yearbook, The Amethyst, 1963
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty Steele (right), Key Club vice president, with fellow officers; Fayetteville High School yearbook, <i>The Amethyst</i>, 1963 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#11: Marty Steele (right), Key Club vice president, with fellow officers; Fayetteville High School yearbook, The Amethyst, 1963
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty Steele's mentor, Coach Donathon (right); Fayetteville High School yearbook, <i>The Amethyst</i>, 1963 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#12: Marty Steele's mentor, Coach Donathon (right); Fayetteville High School yearbook, The Amethyst, 1963
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Inscription from Coach Donathon to Marty Steele; Fayetteville High School yearbook, <i>The Amethyst</i>, 1963 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#13: Inscription from Coach Donathon to Marty Steele; Fayetteville High School yearbook, The Amethyst, 1963
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty Steele (5th row from top, 11th from left) with the United States Marine Corps, Company N, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment; Camp Pendleton, California, April 29, 1965 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#14: Marty Steele (5th row from top, 11th from left) with the United States Marine Corps, Company N, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment; Camp Pendleton, California, April 29, 1965
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty Steele and Cindy Bayliss Steele at their wedding, with Chaplain John Joseph O'Connor presiding; Quantico, Virginia, 1967 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#15: Marty Steele and Cindy Bayliss Steele at their wedding, with Chaplain John Joseph O'Connor presiding; Quantico, Virginia, 1967
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#16: Marty and Cindy Steele on their wedding day, 1967
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#17: Marty and Cindy Steele on their wedding day, 1967
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Cynthia Brooke Bayliss Steele kissing her father on her wedding day, 1967 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#18: Cynthia Brooke Bayliss Steele kissing her father on her wedding day, 1967
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#19: Marty Steele, US Marine Corps
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#20: Marty Steele, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty and Cindy Steele with their children, Diane and David, early 1970s © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#21: Marty and Cindy Steele with their children, Diane and David, early 1970s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#22: Marty Steele (center), ca. 1976
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty and Cindy Steele with their children, David, Diane, and Deborah (seated), ca. 1980s © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#23: Marty and Cindy Steele with their children, David, Diane, and Deborah (seated), ca. 1980s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

The USS <i>Saint Paul</i> © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#24: The USS Saint Paul
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#25: Marty Steele (right) with his son, David Steele
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#26: Marty Steele (left) with his son, David Steele
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

President Bill Clinton administers the oath of office of brigadier general to Colonel Marty Steele in the Oval Office, 1993 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#27: President Bill Clinton administers the oath of office of brigadier general to Colonel Marty Steele in the Oval Office, 1993
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

President Bill Clinton and Cindy Steele pin the new rank of brigadier general on Colonel Marty Steele in the Oval Office, 1993 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#28: President Bill Clinton and Cindy Steele pin the new rank of brigadier general on Colonel Marty Steele in the Oval Office, 1993
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#29: Major General Marty Steele with Bill Clinton
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lieutenant General Martin R. Steele © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lieutenant General Marty Steele (right), Change of Command/Retirement Parade, 1999 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#31: Lieutenant General Marty Steele (right), Change of Command/Retirement Parade, 1999
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#32: Marty Steele golfing with President Bill Clinton
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#33: Lieutenant General Marty Steele (2nd from right), with aides, 1999
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#34: Marty Steele with family and housekeeper, 1999
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lieutenant General Marty Steele (left) with General Charles C. Krulak © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#35: Lieutenant General Marty Steele (left) with General Charles C. Krulak
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#36: Marty and Cindy Steele, US Marine Corps Birthday Ball, 1999
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Marty Steele (right) with his family: (from left) son-in-law, Carlos; granddaughter, Raquel; daughter, Diane; daughter-in-law, Natalie; daughter, Deborah; son, David; wife, Cindy; (in front) granddaughter; grandson, Matthew © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#37: Marty Steele (right) with his family: (from left) son-in-law, Carlos; granddaughter, Raquel; daughter, Diane; daughter-in-law, Natalie; daughter, Deborah; son, David; wife, Cindy; (in front) granddaughter; grandson, Matthew
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Martin "Marty" R. Steele at the Pryor Center; Fayetteville, Arkansas, November 13, 2009 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#38: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Martin "Marty" R. Steele at the Pryor Center; Fayetteville, Arkansas, November 13, 2009
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#39: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Martin "Marty" R. Steele at the Pryor Center; Fayetteville, Arkansas, November 13, 2009
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Martin "Marty" R. Steele at the Pryor Center; Fayetteville, Arkansas, November 13, 2009 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#40: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Martin "Marty" R. Steele at the Pryor Center; Fayetteville, Arkansas, November 13, 2009
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas