Longwood Central School District

Thomas Holmes was born on Dec. 20^th, 1925. he was the son of Richard and Gertrude Holmes. He attended school in West Yaphank for 8 years and later attended Port Jefferson High School.  Before entering the service he was working for the Grumman aircraft Company at Bethpage. He was inducted into the Army on March 25^th , 1944 and sent to Camp Upton, New York. As a PFC he was assigned to company E of the 387^th Infantry of the 97^th Infantry Division. Holmes left the United States on March 18, 1945 and arrived at La Harve France. He was involved in the engagements in the Ruhr Pocket, later in Southern Germany and then in Czechoslovakia. In June of 1945 the unit left France and returned to the United States. From Seattle, Washington he sailed for Japan where he was part of the occupation forces in Japan for 8 months. Arriving back in Seattle on April 23, 1946 Holmes was sent to Fort Dix where he was discharged on May 16, 1946. For their service in Europe his unit received two Bronze Battle Stars.