Lemoore-based Navy officer gets special day with Derek Carr and Raiders

If you’re going to commit to a life with the U.S. Navy, why not do it with your favorite team?

That’s what Madera native and Lemoore-based Chief Petty Officer Matt Martinez did when he got to meet Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders.

“I was getting ready to do my final re-enlisting,” said Martinez, who entered military service in September 1999. “We were talking about it and my wife said if you had one choice where would you want to re-enlist? I know people re-enlisted on a flight deck carrier, in a helicopter or even at baseball games.

“First thing I thought of is I’ve been a lifelong Raiders fan and I wanted to do something with the Raiders.”

Wish granted. His wife, Ana, solicited help from ABC 30’s Tommy Tran, who got the Martinezes and the Raiders in touch. The re-enlistment ceremony happened on the practice field at the end of an August practice.

Chief Petty Officer Martinez mingled with players plus owner Mark Davis, general manager Reggie McKenzie and coach Jack Del Rio.

Martinez said he gave Carr a cranial shell, which is a part of his flight deck uniform helmet.

Martinez wore the cranial shell while on his deployments around the world attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 137 based at Lemoore Naval Air Station. The shell he gave Carr has a custom-made Raiders logo on it. Martinez wrote an inscription on the inside.

Ana Martinez said, “He has done so much for our family, it was nice to help make his dream come true.”

This story was originally published October 7, 2017 at 10:35 AM with the headline "Lemoore-based Navy officer gets special day with Derek Carr and Raiders."