My family should all remember my grandfather, Carl Andrew Holmes Jr. He passed away in January of 1994, before I was born. Until I started this project, I barely knew anything about him, but I am proud of what he did. Fighting in the Korean War was one of the highlights in his life. Although he had many moments where, "he should have been decorated for his actions", there was one night in particular that really captures his essence. This night, him and his fox hole buddy, got a, "mission to support “C” company" which was really far away. They could only travel at night, so the Chinese could not track them (Frank Lloyd). So, to reach the "C" company, the P. C. had to cross a bridge, that was not even wide enough for the monster, the tracks hung over the side of the bridge. But Carl gladly climbed out, and armed with two flashlights lit the way. The morning when they arrived, the Chinese massed the camp with thousands of troops, and, "Despite artillery, mortar, and small arms fire Carl evacuated the wounded and dead" (Frank Lloyd). The bravery that Carl exhibited that night earned him his combat infantry badge. This badge was a sign of honor among men who had been there. Carl was a quiet man, and nobody knew this until Frank Lloyd, his best friend, shared it in a eulogy at his funeral. Carl was such a, "true bona fide hero" and after learning about this story, I truly believe it. To this day, it is impossible to describe Carl in one word, he just fit so many. Brave, Passionate, Caring, and selfless, just one doesn't work. But the real reason our family should never forget Carl, is because of all of this, and so much more. His actions speak louder than he ever did, and this is what we should remember. A true bona fide hero.
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Samantha HolmesI'm a Freshman at MSHS! Archives
June 2014
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