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FAYETTEVILLE — Col. Eugene J. Holmes of Fayetteville, Ark., passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by his wife, three children and many grandchildren, of natural causes Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005. A man of integrity and honor, he was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and a true Citizen-Soldier-Patriot.
Col. Holmes was born into "The Greatest Generation" on Feb. 11, 1916, in Helper, Utah, the son of Julius and Olive May Holmes. He grew up during the Great Depression and dedicated 30 years of his life to serving his country through World War II, the Korean War, the Cuban Crisis and the Vietnam War. "The Colonel," as he was often fondly referred to by friends and family, volunteered for service in the Philippines during World War II in the summer of 1941, where she served as Commanding Officer, Battery D 24 th Field Artillery (Philippine Scouts), during the Philippine Islands and Luzon Campaigns. A campaign for which he later received many medals, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart for actions of selfless heroism and valor and injuries sustained during service to his country.
Forced to surrender at Bataan, Col. Holmes survived the infamous Bataan Death March, which has been labeled as one of the cruelest atrocities in our history, and the ensuing three years as a Prisoner of War. Following the war and the Colonel’s liberation, he remained a dedicated military man, serving at home and abroad throughout a long and distinguished career, including roles as a consultant for the first U.S. space shot, as a nuclear weapons officer during the Cuban Missile Crisis and as a Professor of Military Science at Louisiana State University, University of San Francisco and University of Arkansas, where he eventually retired in August 1971 with countless medals, honors, awards and accolades for outstanding service.
Following his service in the U.S. military, Col. Holmes continued to contribute and be a leader to his country and community, working with many local area organizations, including heading up his local Red Cross and starting a local chapter of the Republican Party. In 1997, Mayor Fred Hanna declared July 6 as "Col. Eugene J. Holmes Day" in the city of Fayetteville, Ark.
Col. Holmes is survived by his wife, Irene Laptad Holmes of Fayetteville, Ark.; sister Myrna Smith of Salt Lake City, Utah; son Robert Eugene Holmes and grandson Robert Michael Holmes of Rogers, Ark; son Larry Eugene Holmes of Bella Vista, Ark.; grandson Michael Aaron Holmes and great-grandson Jackson Aaron Holmes of Fayetteville, and grandson Van Holmes of Los Angeles, Calif.; daughter Linda Holmes Burnett of Lowell, Ark., grandson Brian David Burnett of Siloam Springs, grandson John Mark Burnett of Fayetteville and granddaughter Joy Burnett Irvin, and great-grandsons Landon and Braden Irvin of Fort Smith, Ark.
Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005, at University Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ark. Burial will be held at National Cemetery, under the direction of Moore’s Chapel. No scheduled visitation. Officiating, the Dr. H. D. Mc-Carty. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested friends and family make donations to research for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, 15825 Shady Grove, Rockville, Md., 20855, or the American Cancer Society, 901 N. University, Little Rock, Ark., 72207.