Hostile fire had been exchanged for days at Firebase Tomahawk in the northern part of South Vietnam. Alpha Company was trying to take a hill that would give them a key position on a ridge line when they came under fire. PFC James Michael Holmes was our point man, and he took a shot in the torso. He went into shock and he died. 

I had seen hundreds of casualties and dead, but this was the first personal friend I knew and lost, and I've lived with that memory for 33 years.

-- Dave "Doc Deuce: DeSoucy

PFC James Michael Holmes' niece, Trudi Evans,  contacted us on December 31, 2001 through our web site and asked that we try to locate GI’s who may have known him. Her effort brought together three of our comrades who served with him: Dave (Doc) DeSoucy, Michael Christiansen and Floyd Turnley. Their reunion was reported in the Salt Lake Tribune during the Summer Olympics. 

At our 2002 Reunion, Trudi Evans and family members, including James Michael Holmes' sister were present to receive the Some Gave All Award. 

Back to Some Gave All