Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Corporal

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    38th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    2d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    May 18, 1951

    Headquarters, 2d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 230 (June 28, 1951)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Francis L. Holmes (ASN: RA-14318429), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters, 2d Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 18 May 1951, in the vicinity of Kunmul-gol, Korea. On that date Corporal Holmes, a squad leader of the ammunition and pioneer platoon, had the mission of securing a small hill and delaying the enemy until an orderly withdrawal of the battalion command post had been accomplished. Shortly before the withdrawal was completed, the enemy launched a fierce assault upon Corporal Holmes’ position. Seeing his squad to be disorganized by the force of the attack, Corporal Holmes, completely disregarding his own safety, exposed himself to the intense fire and resolutely restored order in his squad. He then manned a machine gun to cover the evacuation of the wounded and thereupon ordered his men to withdraw. Corporal Holmes, himself, remained and covered the withdrawal of his men with intense machine gun fire. When the enemy again charged the hill, Corporal Holmes engaged the enemy single-handedly. His courageous stand enabled the battalion command post to make a successful withdrawal. The gallantry displayed by Corporal Holmes reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.