Walter Tom Holmes, Jr., prominent Jasper businessman, died at his home in Jasper on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. He was 90.
A retired Lieutenant Colonel, 8th Air Force, 44th Bomb Group, he was among the most highly decorated of the B-24 pilots during WWII. His most prestigious medal was the Distinguished Service Cross which recognized that he "...distinguished himself in aerial combat operations over the Ploesti Oil Refineries of Rumania on 1 August 1943. As Operations Officer of the 68th Bombardment Squadron, Captain Holmes piloted a lead aircraft in a formation of B-24 type aircraft that attacked a highly important oil refinery at extremely low altitude. Because of the nature of the target, it was imperative the lead pilot follow an exact course to and over the target. Some 15 miles before reaching the objective, Captain Holmes' aircraft was subjected to heavy point blank anti-aircraft and machine-gun fire. Knowing that evasive action would disrupt the close flying formation, Captain Holmes, thinking only of the complete destruction of his separate target ahead, and with complete disregard for personal risk of life, kept fast to the course, leading his formation through fire and smoke straight over the target. His courageous determination and exceptional piloting skill resulted in the successful and full destruction of his target. Captain Holmes' actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, the 44th Bombardment Group, and the Army of the United States."
Tom was born February 4, 1919, in Higgins, Texas, the first of five children to Clara Estelle Gassaway Holmes and Walter Tom Holmes, Sr. The Holmes family moved to Jasper shortly after WWII and established Tex-La Feed Mills. Tom later became a land developer and is best known for the Holmwood subdivision just west of Jasper.
For his entire life he was interested in aviation and fully supported Jasper's Bell Field. In March he was elected to the CAF Airpower Museum's Combat Airmen Hall of Fame in Midland, Texas and was to be honored at a banquet there in October.
A lifelong member of the Methodist church, Tom served in many capacities at First United Methodist Church of Jasper. The group he most enjoyed was the Seekers' Sunday School Class of which he was a charter member.
He served as a city councilman and was a charter member of the Jasper Lions Club.
Tom was predeceased by his parents; his first wife, Margueritte (Reete) Poole Holmes; a son, Johnny; sister, Nell Holmes Allen; brothers, Jim Porter Holmes and Will S. Holmes.
Survivors include his wife, Nida Aden Marshall Holmes; her daughters, Suzette Marshall of Houston and Dr. Shelley M. Payne of Austin; sister, Mary Ruth Holmes Sonnenburg and husband Eldon of Pottsboro; sister-in-law Barbara Lanier Holmes of Lufkin; nieces and nephews William L. Holmes of Midland, Lou Ann Raetz of McKinney, Jennifer Haar of Katy, Linda Meadors of Clear Lake, Mark Allen of Florida, Michael Sonnenburg of Dennison, Sylvia Sheets of Plano, James Allen Holmes of San Francisco, Lana Holmes of San Francisco and their families.
Memorial services will be held at First United Methodist Church at 10 AM on Saturday, May 30, 2009.
A retired Lieutenant Colonel, 8th Air Force, 44th Bomb Group, he was among the most highly decorated of the B-24 pilots during WWII. His most prestigious medal was the Distinguished Service Cross which recognized that he "...distinguished himself in aerial combat operations over the Ploesti Oil Refineries of Rumania on 1 August 1943. As Operations Officer of the 68th Bombardment Squadron, Captain Holmes piloted a lead aircraft in a formation of B-24 type aircraft that attacked a highly important oil refinery at extremely low altitude. Because of the nature of the target, it was imperative the lead pilot follow an exact course to and over the target. Some 15 miles before reaching the objective, Captain Holmes' aircraft was subjected to heavy point blank anti-aircraft and machine-gun fire. Knowing that evasive action would disrupt the close flying formation, Captain Holmes, thinking only of the complete destruction of his separate target ahead, and with complete disregard for personal risk of life, kept fast to the course, leading his formation through fire and smoke straight over the target. His courageous determination and exceptional piloting skill resulted in the successful and full destruction of his target. Captain Holmes' actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, the 44th Bombardment Group, and the Army of the United States."
Tom was born February 4, 1919, in Higgins, Texas, the first of five children to Clara Estelle Gassaway Holmes and Walter Tom Holmes, Sr. The Holmes family moved to Jasper shortly after WWII and established Tex-La Feed Mills. Tom later became a land developer and is best known for the Holmwood subdivision just west of Jasper.
For his entire life he was interested in aviation and fully supported Jasper's Bell Field. In March he was elected to the CAF Airpower Museum's Combat Airmen Hall of Fame in Midland, Texas and was to be honored at a banquet there in October.
A lifelong member of the Methodist church, Tom served in many capacities at First United Methodist Church of Jasper. The group he most enjoyed was the Seekers' Sunday School Class of which he was a charter member.
He served as a city councilman and was a charter member of the Jasper Lions Club.
Tom was predeceased by his parents; his first wife, Margueritte (Reete) Poole Holmes; a son, Johnny; sister, Nell Holmes Allen; brothers, Jim Porter Holmes and Will S. Holmes.
Survivors include his wife, Nida Aden Marshall Holmes; her daughters, Suzette Marshall of Houston and Dr. Shelley M. Payne of Austin; sister, Mary Ruth Holmes Sonnenburg and husband Eldon of Pottsboro; sister-in-law Barbara Lanier Holmes of Lufkin; nieces and nephews William L. Holmes of Midland, Lou Ann Raetz of McKinney, Jennifer Haar of Katy, Linda Meadors of Clear Lake, Mark Allen of Florida, Michael Sonnenburg of Dennison, Sylvia Sheets of Plano, James Allen Holmes of San Francisco, Lana Holmes of San Francisco and their families.
Memorial services will be held at First United Methodist Church at 10 AM on Saturday, May 30, 2009.
Walter Tom Holmes, Jr., prominent Jasper businessman, died at his home in Jasper on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. He was 90.
A retired Lieutenant Colonel, 8th Air Force, 44th Bomb Group, he was among the most highly decorated of the B-24 pilots during WWII. His most prestigious medal was the Distinguished Service Cross which recognized that he "...distinguished himself in aerial combat operations over the Ploesti Oil Refineries of Rumania on 1 August 1943. As Operations Officer of the 68th Bombardment Squadron, Captain Holmes piloted a lead aircraft in a formation of B-24 type aircraft that attacked a highly important oil refinery at extremely low altitude. Because of the nature of the target, it was imperative the lead pilot follow an exact course to and over the target. Some 15 miles before reaching the objective, Captain Holmes' aircraft was subjected to heavy point blank anti-aircraft and machine-gun fire. Knowing that evasive action would disrupt the close flying formation, Captain Holmes, thinking only of the complete destruction of his separate target ahead, and with complete disregard for personal risk of life, kept fast to the course, leading his formation through fire and smoke straight over the target. His courageous determination and exceptional piloting skill resulted in the successful and full destruction of his target. Captain Holmes' actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, the 44th Bombardment Group, and the Army of the United States."
Tom was born February 4, 1919, in Higgins, Texas, the first of five children to Clara Estelle Gassaway Holmes and Walter Tom Holmes, Sr. The Holmes family moved to Jasper shortly after WWII and established Tex-La Feed Mills. Tom later became a land developer and is best known for the Holmwood subdivision just west of Jasper.
For his entire life he was interested in aviation and fully supported Jasper's Bell Field. In March he was elected to the CAF Airpower Museum's Combat Airmen Hall of Fame in Midland, Texas and was to be honored at a banquet there in October.
A lifelong member of the Methodist church, Tom served in many capacities at First United Methodist Church of Jasper. The group he most enjoyed was the Seekers' Sunday School Class of which he was a charter member.
He served as a city councilman and was a charter member of the Jasper Lions Club.
Tom was predeceased by his parents; his first wife, Margueritte (Reete) Poole Holmes; a son, Johnny; sister, Nell Holmes Allen; brothers, Jim Porter Holmes and Will S. Holmes.
Survivors include his wife, Nida Aden Marshall Holmes; her daughters, Suzette Marshall of Houston and Dr. Shelley M. Payne of Austin; sister, Mary Ruth Holmes Sonnenburg and husband Eldon of Pottsboro; sister-in-law Barbara Lanier Holmes of Lufkin; nieces and nephews William L. Holmes of Midland, Lou Ann Raetz of McKinney, Jennifer Haar of Katy, Linda Meadors of Clear Lake, Mark Allen of Florida, Michael Sonnenburg of Dennison, Sylvia Sheets of Plano, James Allen Holmes of San Francisco, Lana Holmes of San Francisco and their families.
Memorial services will be held at First United Methodist Church at 10 AM on Saturday, May 30, 2009.
A retired Lieutenant Colonel, 8th Air Force, 44th Bomb Group, he was among the most highly decorated of the B-24 pilots during WWII. His most prestigious medal was the Distinguished Service Cross which recognized that he "...distinguished himself in aerial combat operations over the Ploesti Oil Refineries of Rumania on 1 August 1943. As Operations Officer of the 68th Bombardment Squadron, Captain Holmes piloted a lead aircraft in a formation of B-24 type aircraft that attacked a highly important oil refinery at extremely low altitude. Because of the nature of the target, it was imperative the lead pilot follow an exact course to and over the target. Some 15 miles before reaching the objective, Captain Holmes' aircraft was subjected to heavy point blank anti-aircraft and machine-gun fire. Knowing that evasive action would disrupt the close flying formation, Captain Holmes, thinking only of the complete destruction of his separate target ahead, and with complete disregard for personal risk of life, kept fast to the course, leading his formation through fire and smoke straight over the target. His courageous determination and exceptional piloting skill resulted in the successful and full destruction of his target. Captain Holmes' actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, the 44th Bombardment Group, and the Army of the United States."
Tom was born February 4, 1919, in Higgins, Texas, the first of five children to Clara Estelle Gassaway Holmes and Walter Tom Holmes, Sr. The Holmes family moved to Jasper shortly after WWII and established Tex-La Feed Mills. Tom later became a land developer and is best known for the Holmwood subdivision just west of Jasper.
For his entire life he was interested in aviation and fully supported Jasper's Bell Field. In March he was elected to the CAF Airpower Museum's Combat Airmen Hall of Fame in Midland, Texas and was to be honored at a banquet there in October.
A lifelong member of the Methodist church, Tom served in many capacities at First United Methodist Church of Jasper. The group he most enjoyed was the Seekers' Sunday School Class of which he was a charter member.
He served as a city councilman and was a charter member of the Jasper Lions Club.
Tom was predeceased by his parents; his first wife, Margueritte (Reete) Poole Holmes; a son, Johnny; sister, Nell Holmes Allen; brothers, Jim Porter Holmes and Will S. Holmes.
Survivors include his wife, Nida Aden Marshall Holmes; her daughters, Suzette Marshall of Houston and Dr. Shelley M. Payne of Austin; sister, Mary Ruth Holmes Sonnenburg and husband Eldon of Pottsboro; sister-in-law Barbara Lanier Holmes of Lufkin; nieces and nephews William L. Holmes of Midland, Lou Ann Raetz of McKinney, Jennifer Haar of Katy, Linda Meadors of Clear Lake, Mark Allen of Florida, Michael Sonnenburg of Dennison, Sylvia Sheets of Plano, James Allen Holmes of San Francisco, Lana Holmes of San Francisco and their families.
Memorial services will be held at First United Methodist Church at 10 AM on Saturday, May 30, 2009.
Gravesite Details
See article in the Thursday, May 28, 2009 edition of the Beaumont Enterprise
