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Sgt. Cecil Martin Holekamp, age 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Holekamp of Junction, was re ported by the U.S. War Depart ment to have been killed in ac tion on Okinawa on April 10, 1945. Sgt. Holekamp had previously been awarded the Bronz Star, the Combat Infantryman's Badge and the Purple Heart. He had participated In the Initial land ings on Leyte and fought with valor throughout the Leyte (in the Philippines) campaign where he was given the Bronz Star for outstanding performance while in the line of duty. The citation for which Sgt. Holekamp received the Bronz Star read as follows: “Pfc. Hole kamp, a member of a volunteer flank patrol, was entering a vil lage under heavy enemy fire when his patrol was pinned down with the men no longer able to support the advance of his como ny. Pfc. Holekamp voluntar ly and at the risk of his life, exposed himself to enemy fire and moved his men and weapons to position from which they suc cessfully supported by fire the advance of his company. Holekamp's actions were mental in the success of then.” Following this campaign, Hole kamp was advanced in rank from Pfe, until, at the time of his re ported death, he had been made a Sergeant. He is a graduate of Junction high School, 1941, fol lowing which he spent two years in Texas A. M. College. In Dec ember 1942 he enlisted with the Reserve Corps and In June, 1943, he entered active service with the army, training in California and Oregon prior to going overseas in July 1944. Sgt. Holekamp went into Okin awa with the initial landings (which were made on Easter Sunday morning) and his death is reported ten days later. His parents had not heard from him since March 24th. Sgt. Holekamp's father, Conrad Holekamp, is manager of the Junction Warehouse Company, who is one of the outstanding civic and community leaders of Junction. Buddies of the young man paid him a splendid tribute when they wrote home saying that “he was a fine soldier.” Sgt. Holekamp is known by numerous people in the Harper territory, all of whom ‘gin in acknowledging his out: at ogaie sees
Newspaper Details
Harper Herald
Harper, Texas, US
Fri, Jun 22, 1945
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Ginger A.
USA 31 May 2026
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