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OTHO EUGENE HOLMES

COL. O. E. HOLMES

Col. Otho E. Holmes, 41, 57 Channing Rd., Springfield, Va., brother of David Holmes, Bellbrook teacher, died of leukemia Tuesday noon at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D. C.

Ill for the last two years, Col. Holmes had been stationed at the Pentagon in Washington, D. C. while undergoing treatment at the hospital. He had been confined to the hospital the last three weeks.

A graduate of Wilmington High School at Wilmington, O., and University of Idaho at Moscow, Idaho, Col. Holmes was commissioned as an officer in the regular Army following his graduation from college and served ever since.

He was a paratrooper during World War II and took part in the European invasion.

Survivors, in addition to his brother, include his wife, Catherine; a son, Carey and his mother, Mrs. Faye Ward of near Wilmington.

Services will be conducted at the Arlington National Cemetery Washington D. C., Friday 10:30 a.m. with burial in that cemetery.
 

Col. Otho Holmes
   WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Col. Otho Holmes, 41, of 5758 Channing Rd., Springfield, Val died at 12 noon Tuesday at Walter Reed Hospital.  He had been in failing health two years and seriously ill eight weeks.
   Col, Holmes a native of Wilmington is the son of Mrs. J. C. Ward of Wilmington.  He is survived by his wife, Catherine, a son, Gary, and a brother, David Holmes of Bellbrook.
   Services will be conducted Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Rinaldi funeral home Washington, D.C.  Burial will be in Arlington.
   Col, Holmes was a paratrooper in World War II and took part in the invasion of Normandy.

[Wilmington News-Journal, Wilmington, OH Wed. Sep 30, 1959, Pg 2]


BURIAL RECORD
for Col Otho E. Holmes, in Arlington, indicates Section 7, Grave 8327 LH, to be dug extra deep leaving space for his widow to join him at a later date.  She was interred at this site in 2002, nearly 43 years after her husband [see monument inscription at right].

 

 
(courtesy
of Anne Cady)

Otho E. Holmes [Jan 1, 1919 - Sep 29, 1959]

Born  in Ohio, Otho Holmes earned a BS in Physical Education from the University of Ohio in 1941.  He was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Army Reserve on 8 Feb 1941 and was given a Regular Army commission as a 2nd Lt. on 1 July 1941.

During the course of WW-II, Otho Holmes was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

Major Holmes assumed command of the 2nd Battalion on July 24, 1944 replacing Lt. Col. Thomas J.B. Shanley who had been elevated to Regimental Executive Officer on that same date.

Holmes was promoted to Lt. Col. on December 11, 1944 and took command of the 508th in 1945.  He later relinquished command to Col. Louis Mendez. Colonel Albert H Dickerson replaced Col. Mendez and commanded the Regiment when it was deactivated.

Holmes graduated from the Command & General Staff College in 1950 and the Army War College in 1955.  On August 1st of that year he was promoted to full Colonel.

Col. Holmes and his wife are buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Section 7, grave site 8327 LH.

(Biographic details courtesy Irv Shanley)

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