23 Oct 2007 I didn't personally know Alan Holm, but I do remember him as I was in the high school class ahead of him (1967). His family suffered greatly from the untimely death of two of their 3 children (Alan's older sister Cynthia died in 1967 from an auto accident on her way to college at WSU - a beautiful young woman). The small town of Othello has honored Alan by naming the cemetery memorial to veterans the "Alan Holm Veterans Memorial." He was the third and last local boy to have died as a result of his military service in Vietnam. My reason for remembering him here is because I was also a Vietnam Vet, serving briefly in April and May of '69 with the 82nd Airborne and securing triple amputations on 6 May 1969 from a mortar attack on our night ambush position near Cu Chi. While I've wanted to forget that long ago time, I can't purge it from my life or memory, since it's marked all over my body as a permanent reminder. My honoring Alan is a way to bring a measure of peace to us both, and by honoring Alan I'm also acknowledging the honor that I owe myself but have found so hard to accept or believe in. Rest in peace, Brother Alan... Another Vietnam vet from the same small town Don Cooper E-mail address is not available. From The Virtual Wall: The other two men from Othello, Washington who died as a result of service in Vietnam were LCDR Clement J. Morisette, USN, Attack Squadron 163; died 26 Oct 1966 in a fire aboard USS ORISKANY SP4 Hector L. Ruiz, US Army, 577TH Engineer Battalion; died 24 Nov 1967 of burns received in an accident The only 82nd Abn Div unit known to have taken casualties in a 06 May 1969 mortar attack in Hau Nghia Province, where Cu Chi is located, is D Company, 1/508th Infantry, which had one man killed (SP4 Charlie C. Williamson, Memphis, TN), one seriously wounded (from Washington), and several less seriously wounded. The exact location within Hau Nghia is not known.

 

27 Oct 2007 Combat Claims Local Soldier - A 21-year-old local man became Othello's first combat casualty in Vietnam when he was killed in action last Saturday. Pfc. Alan Hans Holm, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hans C. Holm, 905 Elm, Othello, was reported killed by a land mine while in combat in Vietnam. Holm became the third local local soldier to die in the southeast Asia war. However, two other casualties lost their lives in non-combat related accidents. The local man had joined the Army on 22 July of last year (1970) and had been sent to Vietnam in January of this year. Born 20 July 1949 in LaJunta CO, the soldier came to Othello when he was four years old. He attended Hiawatha and Lutacaga elementary schools and graduated from Othello High School in 1968. He was a four-sport letterman at Othello High School participating in football, basketball, wrestling and track. He attended Grays Harbor Community College following graduation and played football there. Survivors include his parents; one sister, Celeste, at home; and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Holm of Swink CO. Funeral services will be arranged by Muscott Funeral Home and are pending arrival of the body. Services are expected to be next week and will be at the Presbyterian Church. Burial will be at the Bess Hampton Memorial Garden. (Othello Outlook 6 May 1971) Obituary text and photo courtesy of Darilee Bodnar bookstorelady@facesfromthewall.com

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