Hershel Lee Holder
Hershel Lee Holder was born April 29, 1923 at Hutchinson, Kansas, the son of Charley Joe Holder and Connie Edith Staggs Holder. Most of his young life was lived during the Great Depression, a time of hardship for many families. His mother left the family when he was about eight years old leaving his father to rear a daughter, Daisy, and his three sons, Hershel, Nobel Noel and Wilford Loren. His father kept the family together. They traveled to Arkansas, Oklahoma, and California in search of work. During their time in California, he enlisted in the army on February 13, 1943 during World War II. He was deployed to Italy and left his beautiful new bride, Mary Arletta Thelcco to serve our Country. She was expecting their first child.
At the age of 20 years, 7 months, and 10 days, he made the ultimate sacrifice. He died in the service of his country never having seen his son, Hershel Lee Holder, Jr., born June 23, 1943. The following is a transcription of the certificate given to his family.
In Grateful Memory of
Private First Class Hershel L. Holder 39124031
Who died in the Service of His County in the North African Area
December 9, 1943
He Stands in the Unbroken Line
Of Patriots who have dared to die
That Freedom might live and grow, and increase its Blessings.
Freedom lives and through,
He lives in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
President of the United States of America
The United States of America
To all who shall see these presents greetings,
This is to certify that
The President of the United States of America
Pursuant to the Authority vested in Him by Congress
Has awarded the Purple Heart
Established by General George Washington at Newburgh, New York, August 7 1782
To
Private First Class Hershel L. Holder, A. S. No. 39124031,
For Military Merit and for Wounds received in Action
Resulting in his death December 9, 1943
Given under my Hand in the City of Washington
This 24 day of January 1944
Hershel's brother Wilford Loren Holder's heart was broken twice by what happened on a mountain in Italy nearly 65 years ago. He remembers his brother delivering the bad news in December 1943 that their older brother had been killed in action in World War II in the mountains around Monte Cassino as the Allies tried to break their way out of Anzio during the invasion of Italy. More than six decades later, Wilford Holder got a package in the mail. He opened it to find his brother's dog tags. An Italian woman named Marica had sent them after spending seven years trying to track down Hershel Holders next of kin. "I was touched," Wilford Holder said. "She said she gave my brother credit for saving their family. Robert McVay, Wilford Holder's son-in-law, sent an e-mail to Marica. "Her grandmother found the dog tags near her village after the fighting ended. They were handed down to Marica, who was asked to track down the American soldier's family if she could.
Her search started in 2000. The trail eventually led to Oklahoma. McVay said the woman felt a debt to the soldiers who died pushing the Germans from her homeland. "She was telling me about the American GIs and her village people, the GIs would feed them because they were hiding out from the Germans," McVay said. "If it wasn't for the Americans and Hershel, they wouldn't be around today."
When he found out about his brother Hershel's death, Wilford Holder said his first reaction was to try to enlist early; he was 17 at the time. His other brother, who would later drive a tank through France and Germany, talked him out of it.
Wilford Holder eventually did join the Army after he turned 18, training for the amphibious invasion of Japan that never occurred, thanks to a couple of atomic bombs.
Holder said getting his brother's dog tags in the mail and seeing a woman half a world away so determined to repay the service of this family meant more than he could say. "We all served with honor," he said.
Transcribed by Charlotte Stevens Schneider, 2nd Cousin once removed of Hershel Lee Holder
Hershel Lee Holder was born April 29, 1923 at Hutchinson, Kansas, the son of Charley Joe Holder and Connie Edith Staggs Holder. Most of his young life was lived during the Great Depression, a time of hardship for many families. His mother left the family when he was about eight years old leaving his father to rear a daughter, Daisy, and his three sons, Hershel, Nobel Noel and Wilford Loren. His father kept the family together. They traveled to Arkansas, Oklahoma, and California in search of work. During their time in California, he enlisted in the army on February 13, 1943 during World War II. He was deployed to Italy and left his beautiful new bride, Mary Arletta Thelcco to serve our Country. She was expecting their first child.
At the age of 20 years, 7 months, and 10 days, he made the ultimate sacrifice. He died in the service of his country never having seen his son, Hershel Lee Holder, Jr., born June 23, 1943. The following is a transcription of the certificate given to his family.
In Grateful Memory of
Private First Class Hershel L. Holder 39124031
Who died in the Service of His County in the North African Area
December 9, 1943
He Stands in the Unbroken Line
Of Patriots who have dared to die
That Freedom might live and grow, and increase its Blessings.
Freedom lives and through,
He lives in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
President of the United States of America
The United States of America
To all who shall see these presents greetings,
This is to certify that
The President of the United States of America
Pursuant to the Authority vested in Him by Congress
Has awarded the Purple Heart
Established by General George Washington at Newburgh, New York, August 7 1782
To
Private First Class Hershel L. Holder, A. S. No. 39124031,
For Military Merit and for Wounds received in Action
Resulting in his death December 9, 1943
Given under my Hand in the City of Washington
This 24 day of January 1944
Hershel's brother Wilford Loren Holder's heart was broken twice by what happened on a mountain in Italy nearly 65 years ago. He remembers his brother delivering the bad news in December 1943 that their older brother had been killed in action in World War II in the mountains around Monte Cassino as the Allies tried to break their way out of Anzio during the invasion of Italy. More than six decades later, Wilford Holder got a package in the mail. He opened it to find his brother's dog tags. An Italian woman named Marica had sent them after spending seven years trying to track down Hershel Holders next of kin. "I was touched," Wilford Holder said. "She said she gave my brother credit for saving their family. Robert McVay, Wilford Holder's son-in-law, sent an e-mail to Marica. "Her grandmother found the dog tags near her village after the fighting ended. They were handed down to Marica, who was asked to track down the American soldier's family if she could.
Her search started in 2000. The trail eventually led to Oklahoma. McVay said the woman felt a debt to the soldiers who died pushing the Germans from her homeland. "She was telling me about the American GIs and her village people, the GIs would feed them because they were hiding out from the Germans," McVay said. "If it wasn't for the Americans and Hershel, they wouldn't be around today."
When he found out about his brother Hershel's death, Wilford Holder said his first reaction was to try to enlist early; he was 17 at the time. His other brother, who would later drive a tank through France and Germany, talked him out of it.
Wilford Holder eventually did join the Army after he turned 18, training for the amphibious invasion of Japan that never occurred, thanks to a couple of atomic bombs.
Holder said getting his brother's dog tags in the mail and seeing a woman half a world away so determined to repay the service of this family meant more than he could say. "We all served with honor," he said.
Transcribed by Charlotte Stevens Schneider, 2nd Cousin once removed of Hershel Lee Holder
Hershel Lee Holder
Hershel Lee Holder was born April 29, 1923 at Hutchinson, Kansas, the son of Charley Joe Holder and Connie Edith Staggs Holder. Most of his young life was lived during the Great Depression, a time of hardship for many families. His mother left the family when he was about eight years old leaving his father to rear a daughter, Daisy, and his three sons, Hershel, Nobel Noel and Wilford Loren. His father kept the family together. They traveled to Arkansas, Oklahoma, and California in search of work. During their time in California, he enlisted in the army on February 13, 1943 during World War II. He was deployed to Italy and left his beautiful new bride, Mary Arletta Thelcco to serve our Country. She was expecting their first child.
At the age of 20 years, 7 months, and 10 days, he made the ultimate sacrifice. He died in the service of his country never having seen his son, Hershel Lee Holder, Jr., born June 23, 1943. The following is a transcription of the certificate given to his family.
In Grateful Memory of
Private First Class Hershel L. Holder 39124031
Who died in the Service of His County in the North African Area
December 9, 1943
He Stands in the Unbroken Line
Of Patriots who have dared to die
That Freedom might live and grow, and increase its Blessings.
Freedom lives and through,
He lives in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
President of the United States of America
The United States of America
To all who shall see these presents greetings,
This is to certify that
The President of the United States of America
Pursuant to the Authority vested in Him by Congress
Has awarded the Purple Heart
Established by General George Washington at Newburgh, New York, August 7 1782
To
Private First Class Hershel L. Holder, A. S. No. 39124031,
For Military Merit and for Wounds received in Action
Resulting in his death December 9, 1943
Given under my Hand in the City of Washington
This 24 day of January 1944
Hershel's brother Wilford Loren Holder's heart was broken twice by what happened on a mountain in Italy nearly 65 years ago. He remembers his brother delivering the bad news in December 1943 that their older brother had been killed in action in World War II in the mountains around Monte Cassino as the Allies tried to break their way out of Anzio during the invasion of Italy. More than six decades later, Wilford Holder got a package in the mail. He opened it to find his brother's dog tags. An Italian woman named Marica had sent them after spending seven years trying to track down Hershel Holders next of kin. "I was touched," Wilford Holder said. "She said she gave my brother credit for saving their family. Robert McVay, Wilford Holder's son-in-law, sent an e-mail to Marica. "Her grandmother found the dog tags near her village after the fighting ended. They were handed down to Marica, who was asked to track down the American soldier's family if she could.
Her search started in 2000. The trail eventually led to Oklahoma. McVay said the woman felt a debt to the soldiers who died pushing the Germans from her homeland. "She was telling me about the American GIs and her village people, the GIs would feed them because they were hiding out from the Germans," McVay said. "If it wasn't for the Americans and Hershel, they wouldn't be around today."
When he found out about his brother Hershel's death, Wilford Holder said his first reaction was to try to enlist early; he was 17 at the time. His other brother, who would later drive a tank through France and Germany, talked him out of it.
Wilford Holder eventually did join the Army after he turned 18, training for the amphibious invasion of Japan that never occurred, thanks to a couple of atomic bombs.
Holder said getting his brother's dog tags in the mail and seeing a woman half a world away so determined to repay the service of this family meant more than he could say. "We all served with honor," he said.
Transcribed by Charlotte Stevens Schneider, 2nd Cousin once removed of Hershel Lee Holder
Hershel Lee Holder was born April 29, 1923 at Hutchinson, Kansas, the son of Charley Joe Holder and Connie Edith Staggs Holder. Most of his young life was lived during the Great Depression, a time of hardship for many families. His mother left the family when he was about eight years old leaving his father to rear a daughter, Daisy, and his three sons, Hershel, Nobel Noel and Wilford Loren. His father kept the family together. They traveled to Arkansas, Oklahoma, and California in search of work. During their time in California, he enlisted in the army on February 13, 1943 during World War II. He was deployed to Italy and left his beautiful new bride, Mary Arletta Thelcco to serve our Country. She was expecting their first child.
At the age of 20 years, 7 months, and 10 days, he made the ultimate sacrifice. He died in the service of his country never having seen his son, Hershel Lee Holder, Jr., born June 23, 1943. The following is a transcription of the certificate given to his family.
In Grateful Memory of
Private First Class Hershel L. Holder 39124031
Who died in the Service of His County in the North African Area
December 9, 1943
He Stands in the Unbroken Line
Of Patriots who have dared to die
That Freedom might live and grow, and increase its Blessings.
Freedom lives and through,
He lives in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
President of the United States of America
The United States of America
To all who shall see these presents greetings,
This is to certify that
The President of the United States of America
Pursuant to the Authority vested in Him by Congress
Has awarded the Purple Heart
Established by General George Washington at Newburgh, New York, August 7 1782
To
Private First Class Hershel L. Holder, A. S. No. 39124031,
For Military Merit and for Wounds received in Action
Resulting in his death December 9, 1943
Given under my Hand in the City of Washington
This 24 day of January 1944
Hershel's brother Wilford Loren Holder's heart was broken twice by what happened on a mountain in Italy nearly 65 years ago. He remembers his brother delivering the bad news in December 1943 that their older brother had been killed in action in World War II in the mountains around Monte Cassino as the Allies tried to break their way out of Anzio during the invasion of Italy. More than six decades later, Wilford Holder got a package in the mail. He opened it to find his brother's dog tags. An Italian woman named Marica had sent them after spending seven years trying to track down Hershel Holders next of kin. "I was touched," Wilford Holder said. "She said she gave my brother credit for saving their family. Robert McVay, Wilford Holder's son-in-law, sent an e-mail to Marica. "Her grandmother found the dog tags near her village after the fighting ended. They were handed down to Marica, who was asked to track down the American soldier's family if she could.
Her search started in 2000. The trail eventually led to Oklahoma. McVay said the woman felt a debt to the soldiers who died pushing the Germans from her homeland. "She was telling me about the American GIs and her village people, the GIs would feed them because they were hiding out from the Germans," McVay said. "If it wasn't for the Americans and Hershel, they wouldn't be around today."
When he found out about his brother Hershel's death, Wilford Holder said his first reaction was to try to enlist early; he was 17 at the time. His other brother, who would later drive a tank through France and Germany, talked him out of it.
Wilford Holder eventually did join the Army after he turned 18, training for the amphibious invasion of Japan that never occurred, thanks to a couple of atomic bombs.
Holder said getting his brother's dog tags in the mail and seeing a woman half a world away so determined to repay the service of this family meant more than he could say. "We all served with honor," he said.
Transcribed by Charlotte Stevens Schneider, 2nd Cousin once removed of Hershel Lee Holder
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