RIP Marty aka Ironwoodtuna Statement

[Captain Michael Buffington]

you could just see it in demeanor on those vids and the way that boat looks as well as every helpful hint he passed on to all that ask. He was an innovator and I'm sure he passed those traits down to you. Good luck Cody.

Mike

[KEY-LIME-PIE]

Your Dad passed doing what he loved! That does not happen for everyone. Please take peace in that. And when you are ready please PM me I'll fish with you. And I also feel that theres not a man on this site that wouldn't do the same.


Capt Tom

[Captain Fred Archer]

Marty was much more than an Internet presence to me, and through him, Cody. He was the finest sort of man - honest, strong, kind, a great father, considerate of others, a real leading edge type of a man, a hard core hunter and fisherman and a very successful businessman. One of the finest men that I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

An example of what kind of guy he was showed in a tape he sent me and may have posted about a deer hunt that he made on some desolate moonscape somewhere out west. Marty had the wherewithal to hunt any of those fenced-in places that so many hunting shows are filmed on, but no way would that ever do for him. And not only did he hunt in an extremely challenging, hard, hard place, he did so with a wooden long bow and wooden arrows that he himself made. I don't think that he even got a shot during that week-long hunt, but that didn't matter to Marty. He considered it a great trip. He respected the place, the challenge and the animals. No kill. No brag. He just loved the whole experience. True Marty, all the way.

I am shaken and saddened to my core by what has happened. My deepest regrets go out to Cody and the rest of the family. And I know that Cody, like his dad would have, did his best during that terrible end. And I know that Cody will always carry his dad's spirit with him and in time, will take him hunting and fishing and remember the good times, as Marty would have wanted him to.

It is a pitifully small gesture, but it is the best that I can do. Marty loved those different, challenging bigeye tuna. I have changed the dedication in my book about them to Marty and Cody. This way there will be a long record of that fine father and son, one that I hope that Cody can show his children with pride and love.

Marty, I miss you, and will carry you around in my heart too.

[foxhole]

I am at a lost for words...Wiping away tears as I type this...

Prayers sent to Marty, family, friends, and loved ones...Godspeed...

[Finnseeker]

This was just emailed to me with a link to another site.

I am posting it, I have not confirmed that this was Cody but see no reason for someone to make this up.

May Marty rest in peace. I personally have always enjoyed having him around and enjoyed his posts.

Cody you seem like a very strong young man and my heart goes out to you and your family!

God speed Marty

Capt John Eppehimer


My dad

i thank you all for your support and i went to the other links and that press release isn't totally correct
this i what really happened . . .


We went out fishing Sunday 11/30/08 we left the dock at 6:15AM after getting breakfast over at gaviolas with the other two guys that joined us on our trip.
We ran 17miles to Apple tree a wreck to try and find some bigger black fish and maybe some codfish. We pulled anchor3-4 times and never found the wreck or rough bottom.
we then moved 5 miles back to where we limited out on black fish the day before(Saturday) at South Western Ledge a big rock pile.We anchored up but fishing wasn't great, mostly begauls and only 1 black fish. so my dad wanted to pull the anchor and move up a little more because we were off the ledge. We started pulling the anchor but the anchor ball never popped up and this has happened before when we snagged something. We pulled rope in for about 15-20 min and finally got to the chain. My dad put the boat in neutral and came to the back of the boat to help us. We puled the anchor up and saw the lobster pot line, but he didn't want to cut it because it's the lobster guys lively hood and how he makes a living . then the anchor got pulled out of my dad hands because the boat was drifting so my dad let some rope out and told me to go to the helm.
he said "okay Cody put in reverse"i put in in reverse than he said "okay good, now neutral" so i did then he said"forward quick" and i put it in gear and added some throttle. . . and as i did he was standing on top of all the rope we had already brought in and the rope started going out as i started to circle around for another try.
My dad's leg got wrapped wth the rope and he went over i heard him yell and i put it in neutral. the other guy yelled man overboard as i watched my dad hold onto the gunnel trying to get it off his leg and got pulled over. I put the boat in neutral and went and got a throw ring and had the guys throw it to my dad as i went on the radio to call in a man overboard on channel 16.
i saw my dad floating with his head above the water next to the orange anchor ball and i started to head towards hima nd tiold the guys to get ready to grab him. . . they missed
i circl around this time my dad on my side
he was already under water but i pulled his head up and had both my arms under his arms trying to keep his head above the water
he was unconcious the boat was drifting and he got pulled out of my arms and was under again.
i circled around real quick and this time one of the guys got out a galf. they got his jacket and as they pulled to bring him in his jacket came off.
then i started backing down and got halfway to where i assumed my dad was and wrapped the prop with our anchor rope because the guys onboard didnt know to tell me where the line was so that didnt happen.
throughtout this i was on the radio with the coast guard and the other two gys onboard with us were shooting flares at the closest boat which we found out later was the viienne.
we finally got them to come over and by then he was already under a good ten minutes and unconcious. myself and the two otherguys on our boat were just yelling some many different things that i dont think the Vivienne new what we wanted them to do.
we finnaly got across to them that we were disabled and that my dad was still underwater straight out the back of our boat.
they grabbed the lin with a galf and followed it until they got to the bouy with my dad next to it .
they cut the anchor and brought my dad aboard and i am unsure of what they did after that.
I was now adrift and i pulled in all the anchor line and got two wraps off the prop but i couldnt get anymore off.
the reason for this was because the vivienne is a downeastern and cant go as fast as i could so i knew my dad would have a better chance if i coudl get hiom onto our boat and i didnt care how rough i wa sgoing to get him back.
the vivienne couldnt transfer my dad to a coast guard boat because it was to rough

i love my dad and i hope he lived happily and i know that he will still look out for me.
and all i wish is that the cold got to him before the more painful suffereing underwater


Cody A. McMillan

Im devestated to read this, having personally fished with Marty and Cody a longtime friend of Tred Barta's just dont know what to say. Marty was a very passionate man, loved Cody and were inseperable, his love and devotion to Cody was like no other.

Marty and Cody were supposed to come fish with me in Cabo on my return................................... Still at a loss for words hearing this and nothing I can do to bring Marty back.

Trapped in the glorious years within the memory of belief, lost of all grief. Take the reasons, which once seemed so clear,
but never mind, you have nothing to fear. For you my friend will be, forever young, forever in the heart of memories, lost in the glory of all time, the wisdom was there within that smile,
So shed a smile, and grin a tear, for you my friend, will be, forever in the heart of memory.
There's a new angel tonight.
Will miss you Marty and my heart's out to you Cody and family
Cheers
Chris

[AlloyToy]

Nice write up.........

http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=183136

This has been a tough one to swallow........Marty was just a great guy high on life, and enjoyed his time away from work fishing or hunting with Cody.............

[alex n]

Fred sure does have a way with words, I guess thats what makes him a good author. I have spoken to Marty on this site before in various posts and liked the man , I considered him my friend in an internet sort of way and am deeply saddened by the loss of him, to his family I offer my most sincere condolences on his loss .

[Phat Mann]

That's heart breaking. Prayers to you Cody and your family. It just makes you thimk to enjoy every precious moment we spend with our friends and family.

[Flatdog]

What to say I've been off line for ten days with a move of house, Cody Young man, first of all well done you did everything right, next be strong! You have so many uncles around the world that it will make your eyes water just trying to think of the number.
My thoughts and regards to you and your mum,
You are man of the house now, any Questions just fire away we are here, just like your dad we can help and answer anything, we may sound like idiots on here but....... we have all got miles.
Love to all your family.
Glyn