Sgt. William C. Holmes

U.S. Army Sgt. William C. Holmes, of Smyth County, Virginia was killed in action during the Korean War on September 21, 1951 at the age of 21. His body couldn’t be recovered following the battle; however, on Nov. 1, 1951, an unidentified set of remains, were turned over to the 19th Infantry Regiment’s collection point. The body could not be identified and was subsequently buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His remains were identified in 2019.

He was born on November 1, 1929 in Smyth County, Virginia and was the son of Roy Hayden Holmes and Hallie D. Cruey Holmes Crowder.

According to the DPAA and the Korean War Project, Holmes, called Billy by those who knew him well, was a member of Heavy Tank Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He’d been in Korea since August of 1950. Early in 1951, Holmes was seriously wounded in battle. According to a book on Smyth County service personnel killed in action by Helen Richardson and Carole Rosenbaum, on Jan. 14, 1951, “when the enemy opened fire on both sides of his tank section, Pvt. Holmes voluntarily mounted a tank and manned the .50 caliber machine gun killing 40-50 of the enemy.”

Despite his injuries, the Smyth County soldier returned to duty just two weeks later on Jan. 30. The husband, son, and brother continued his service until that day about eight months later when his unit took part in a patrol near the Iron Triangle in the present-day Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. A firefight ensued, and Sgt. Holmes was killed near Korisil, North Korea. According to Richardson’s and Rosenbaum’s book, his life was claimed by a land mine blast.

For his leadership and heroic actions, Holmes was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster in addition to the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean War Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

In 2018, DPAA disinterred the remains to use modern technology in an attempt to identify the soldier. Scientists used anthropological and chest radiograph comparison analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence. The American Graves Registration Group was able to provide the scientists with an estimated date and area of death. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA analysis.

At the time of his death, his father, Roy Hayden Holmes, had predeceased him. He was survived by his mother, Hallie D. Cruey Holmes Crowder; his wife, Beulah Annabelle Church Holmes; and siblings, Lillian, Maxine, Udessa (Dot), Virginia, James, Albert, Lee and Roy.

Currently, he is survived by his siblings: James, Albert, and Lee Holmes; and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held for family, friends, and anyone wishing to honor Sgt. Holmes on Friday, November 22, 2019 at Rosedale Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2019 at 10am at the funeral home and interment will follow in Middleway Masonic Cemetery.