Thomas Holmes

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Mission Photos

Mission Summary

Born on August 26, 1957 to parents William A Holmes and Beulah C Holmes in Brooklyn, NY, where his father was stationed at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard. As a “Navy Brat”, along with his older brothers Bill and Dennis, he moved many times. When his father retired from the Navy, the family moved back to Texas in 1964 where his mother’s family all lived.

The family moved into the Casa View area of Dallas. As a teenager, Tom could often be found fishing in the ponds at the DAC or volunteering at the Golden Acres Nursing Home (a predominantly Jewish facility). He attended high school at Bryan Adams and at the age of 17, dropped out of school and decided to join the Navy (it was in his blood) where he obtained his GED.

Tom did his boot camp training in San Diego, CA and was soon stationed at Yokosuka, Japan aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway. On April 29, 1975 the USS Midway led a task force known as “Operation Frequent Wind” into the South China Sea to evacuate US and friendly South Vietnam citizens. As a deckhand, as soon as the refugees were unloaded, he helped push many helicopters off the deck of the Midway and into the South China Sea as there was no room on the deck for the vast number of helicopters trying to land. He finished out his Navy service in the Philippines where his brother, Dennis, was also stationed.

Upon his return to Texas, Tom met and soon married his lovely wife, Donna (Martin). They had three wonderful children, Lauren, Sarah, & Tommy. They in turn gave him grandchildren, Kylie, Alex, Charlotte, & (expected soon) Penny.

Tom worked as a HVAC tech for several years installing air conditioning units in MCI remote microwave stations from New York to California. He then became a stationary engineer for GTE in Irving. His diagnosis of MS lead to his early retirement.

Tom served proudly as a Boy Scout leader for many years and helped numerous boys (including his son, Tommy) achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

Tom would talk, and talk, and talk to anyone who had the time to listen (or even if they did not have time). He enjoyed dressing up for Halloween, telling a good joke, spending time with his children and grandchildren, spending time with his mother and brothers, and of course… going to the Choctaw Casino.

Tom will be dearly missed… he was an unpolished gem to all that knew him.

A Celebration of Life will be held 10:00am Friday, March 29, 2024 at Sparkman-Crane Funeral Home. Inurnment with Military Honors will be 2:15pm, Monday April 1, 2024 at the DFW National Cemetery.

His daughter tells the MRC:
He received commendations for Operation Frequent Wind in the 70s and being on board the USS Midway, was his pride and joy, working on the flight deck and completed service on the USS Tarawa.

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