Monthly Archives: April 2010

By 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Public Affair

On April 8, a Tennessee father placed a combat patch on his son’s right shoulder in Iraq, celebrating his son’s service at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

Second Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) has been in country for roughly one month, and its patching ceremony was held outside of the squadron’s headquarters building, where Col. Jeff H. Holmes, the regiment’s commander stationed at Contingency Operating Base Taji, Iraq, patched his son, Spc. Hulon Holmes, a gunner with 3rd Platoon, F Troop, 2-278th ACR and Murfreesboro ,Tenn., native.

Jeff Holmes, also a Murfreesboro, Tenn., native, said it was an honor to put a combat patch on his son and he was glad he was able to make it for the ceremony. “I haven’t been able to attend all the regiment’s subordinate combat patch ceremonies, but it was very special for me and I wanted to make sure I was here for it,” he said. Jeff Holmes said these ceremonies typically happen after 30 days into a rotation. “This is a good chance to commemorate a Soldier’s service in wartime and in theater,” he said.

Jeff Holmes said many of the Soldiers already have a combat patch from prior deployments, but for those who do not, they try to make this a significant event. “It exhibits a lot of respect from one combat Veteran to the other, and a significant transition in one’s career to put one on,” he said.

Jeff Holmes said it is a rare occurrence that a father has a chance to put a combat patch on his son. “I wanted to seize the moment,” he said. This is Hulon Holmes’ first deployment, and he said receiving the combat patch is special. “It’s kind of an honor to be able to receive something like this, knowing that I’ve been here with these guys making a difference,” he said.

Hulon Holmes said it was an honor to be patched by his father. “I didn’t expect that this would be able to happen,” he said. “It was nice to see him in general, but for him to be able to put the patch on me, it was a great moment.” Hulon Holmes said he is proud to serve under his father and could not ask for a better assignment. His father was patient with him, he said, and never pressured him to join the military. “He left that completely up to me,” said Hulon Holmes. “Eventually, it just kind of got to me. I knew it was something that I wanted and needed to do.”

Col. Jeff H. Holmes, the commander of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and a Murfreesboro, Tenn., native, places the combat patch on his son, Spc. Hulon Holmes, a gunner with 3rd Platoon, F Troop, 2nd Squadron, 278th ACR, also a Murfreesboro, Tenn., native, during a ceremony April 8 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

Tomorrow, American flags will be lowered to half mast to honor the memory of former civil right leader, Dorothy Height. It will remain that way through sunset tomorrow evening. On April 12th, President Barack Obama ordered U.S. flags in West Virginia to be flown at half staff in honor of 29 miners killed in the Upper Big Branch mine explosion, something the President has no authority to do except for federal agencies. The Flag Code states:

“In the event of the death a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the Governor of that state, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff.”

But, he did it anyway because he thinks he can and people let him get away with it. Didn’t really matter, since Gov. Joe Manchin ordered the flags of the state lowered anyway a week earlier.

It’s possible that 11 people have been killed in the sinking of the oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. I can’t help but wonder if the flag will for ordered lowered for them as well. Probably not, since it’s an oil tanker and we all what this administration thinks about oil! Instead, they’ll jump on the bandwagon to try and ban offshore oil rigs even though this is the first accident in over 40 years!!

Now, you’re probably asking yourself why I’m bringing this up on a military blog. Well, over the July 12, 2008 weekend (under President Bush’s watch) nine troops were killed in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan while fighting the Taliban. No flags were lowered in honor of these troops. On September 8, 2009 five troops were killed in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan. Again, no flags were lowered to honor the memories of these brave troops. On October 3, 2009, eight more troops were killed in an attack in the Nuristan province and no flags were lowered.

Yet, our government has been lowering flags for MINERS and OIL RIG WORKERS!! Am I the only one pissed to all hell about this? Why are our troops’ lives less worthy of American honors than these people. I know they work hard. I know they provide a valuable product to this country. I know they’re most likely red-blooded, patriotic Americans who work difficult jobs! I know that!! But this has to stop! Either we get back to what the US Code says the flag should be lowered for or WE LOWER IT FOR EVERY PATRIOTIC AMERICAN THAT DIED IN SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY!!!!

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Flags Flown At Half Mast by CJ