Thomas was the son of Thomas N. Holden and the dear brother of James F. Holden of Englewood New Jersey. He attended St Mary's High School in Rutherford where he participated in varsity sports and upon graduation attended Bullis Prep in Silver Springs Maryland. He enrolled at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis Maryland where he started as a linebacker at the 1964 Cotton Bowl against the University of Texas. Upon Graduation at Annapolis on June 3 1964 Tom accepted a commission as a 2d Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps continuing to play football for the base team in Quantico VA. In January 1966 he arrived in Vietnam where he was assigned for duty and served with Company G, 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
During the month of October the 2d Battalion was conducting combat operations in its assigned area of responsibility in Quang Nam Province.
On October 20, the 2d Battalion launched Operation code named KERN in the Khe Le Valley later to be known as ANTENNA VALLEY by Marines in the Duc Duc District where intelligence reported the elements of the 3d NVA Regiment were sighted. On October 22, Company G made contact with the enemy in the vicinity of Ap Ba (4) while crossing waist deep stream and open rice paddies. The enemy opened up with automatic weapons pinning down the Marines who requested artillery support to enable them to maneuver to as reinforcements also arrived to the scene of the battle. Casualties were costly, as enemy sniper fire was accurate, eight men were killed in the action among the casualties was the Executive Officer of Company G, 1stLt Holden as a result of an enemy gunshot wound.
* 1stLt Thomas J. Holden was presented with the SILVER STAR Medal posthumously "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action ....on August 23 1966...."
* 1stLt Thomas J. Holden was presented with a GOLD STAR in lieu of a Second Award of the SILVER STAR Medal posthumously "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action ....on October 22 1966...."
Casualties:
Robert Anthony Bates
James Larry Hightower
Thomas James Holden
Louis Joseph Reed
Charles John Riley
Alan Ivan Smith
Alonzo Allen Teague
Francis Paul Rosebrugh
During the month of October the 2d Battalion was conducting combat operations in its assigned area of responsibility in Quang Nam Province.
On October 20, the 2d Battalion launched Operation code named KERN in the Khe Le Valley later to be known as ANTENNA VALLEY by Marines in the Duc Duc District where intelligence reported the elements of the 3d NVA Regiment were sighted. On October 22, Company G made contact with the enemy in the vicinity of Ap Ba (4) while crossing waist deep stream and open rice paddies. The enemy opened up with automatic weapons pinning down the Marines who requested artillery support to enable them to maneuver to as reinforcements also arrived to the scene of the battle. Casualties were costly, as enemy sniper fire was accurate, eight men were killed in the action among the casualties was the Executive Officer of Company G, 1stLt Holden as a result of an enemy gunshot wound.
* 1stLt Thomas J. Holden was presented with the SILVER STAR Medal posthumously "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action ....on August 23 1966...."
* 1stLt Thomas J. Holden was presented with a GOLD STAR in lieu of a Second Award of the SILVER STAR Medal posthumously "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action ....on October 22 1966...."
Casualties:
Robert Anthony Bates
James Larry Hightower
Thomas James Holden
Louis Joseph Reed
Charles John Riley
Alan Ivan Smith
Alonzo Allen Teague
Francis Paul Rosebrugh
Thomas was the son of Thomas N. Holden and the dear brother of James F. Holden of Englewood New Jersey. He attended St Mary's High School in Rutherford where he participated in varsity sports and upon graduation attended Bullis Prep in Silver Springs Maryland. He enrolled at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis Maryland where he started as a linebacker at the 1964 Cotton Bowl against the University of Texas. Upon Graduation at Annapolis on June 3 1964 Tom accepted a commission as a 2d Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps continuing to play football for the base team in Quantico VA. In January 1966 he arrived in Vietnam where he was assigned for duty and served with Company G, 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
During the month of October the 2d Battalion was conducting combat operations in its assigned area of responsibility in Quang Nam Province.
On October 20, the 2d Battalion launched Operation code named KERN in the Khe Le Valley later to be known as ANTENNA VALLEY by Marines in the Duc Duc District where intelligence reported the elements of the 3d NVA Regiment were sighted. On October 22, Company G made contact with the enemy in the vicinity of Ap Ba (4) while crossing waist deep stream and open rice paddies. The enemy opened up with automatic weapons pinning down the Marines who requested artillery support to enable them to maneuver to as reinforcements also arrived to the scene of the battle. Casualties were costly, as enemy sniper fire was accurate, eight men were killed in the action among the casualties was the Executive Officer of Company G, 1stLt Holden as a result of an enemy gunshot wound.
* 1stLt Thomas J. Holden was presented with the SILVER STAR Medal posthumously "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action ....on August 23 1966...."
* 1stLt Thomas J. Holden was presented with a GOLD STAR in lieu of a Second Award of the SILVER STAR Medal posthumously "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action ....on October 22 1966...."
Casualties:
Robert Anthony Bates
James Larry Hightower
Thomas James Holden
Louis Joseph Reed
Charles John Riley
Alan Ivan Smith
Alonzo Allen Teague
Francis Paul Rosebrugh
During the month of October the 2d Battalion was conducting combat operations in its assigned area of responsibility in Quang Nam Province.
On October 20, the 2d Battalion launched Operation code named KERN in the Khe Le Valley later to be known as ANTENNA VALLEY by Marines in the Duc Duc District where intelligence reported the elements of the 3d NVA Regiment were sighted. On October 22, Company G made contact with the enemy in the vicinity of Ap Ba (4) while crossing waist deep stream and open rice paddies. The enemy opened up with automatic weapons pinning down the Marines who requested artillery support to enable them to maneuver to as reinforcements also arrived to the scene of the battle. Casualties were costly, as enemy sniper fire was accurate, eight men were killed in the action among the casualties was the Executive Officer of Company G, 1stLt Holden as a result of an enemy gunshot wound.
* 1stLt Thomas J. Holden was presented with the SILVER STAR Medal posthumously "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action ....on August 23 1966...."
* 1stLt Thomas J. Holden was presented with a GOLD STAR in lieu of a Second Award of the SILVER STAR Medal posthumously "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action ....on October 22 1966...."
Casualties:
Robert Anthony Bates
James Larry Hightower
Thomas James Holden
Louis Joseph Reed
Charles John Riley
Alan Ivan Smith
Alonzo Allen Teague
Francis Paul Rosebrugh
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