02/07/2026
World War II Battle of the Bulge Officer passes away at age 104.
9 SEP 2022
Lieutenant Thomas Holmes, a towering figure of courage and the last living officer of the 10th Armored Division from World War II’s Battle of the Bulge, passed away at the remarkable age of 104 on 8 SEP 2022.
With his death, a living link to one of history’s darkest and most decisive winters fades into memory.
Lieutenant Holmes served as an officer in the 10th Armored Division (Tigers) during World War II. He had the privilege of leading Soldiers during the Battle of Bastogne as Allied forces pushed into occupied France.
His awards include the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, French Croix de Guerre, the Bronze Star of Belgium, and the Purple Heart.
Lieutenant Holmes was the last surviving officer of the 10th Armored Division, during the crucible of the Ardennes Offensive and the final major German assault of the war.
In the frozen forests of Belgium and France, under relentless enemy fire and unimaginable conditions, he led men with resolve when surrender seemed inevitable and survival uncertain.
Serving under General George S. Patton, Lt. Holmes fought across Germany, France, and Belgium from December 1944 to January 1945. His first combat engagement was with the 90th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized), Troop D, where his fearless leadership earned his unit a Presidential Unit Citation.
Alongside his soldiers, he helped hold Bastogne against overwhelming odds until the arrival of the 101st Airborne, a stand that became a symbol of American grit and defiance.
For his valor, Lt. Holmes was awarded the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, French Croix de Guerre, and the Bronze Star of Belgium - decorations that speak not only to heroism, but to sacrifice paid in blood and endurance. During the battle of Crailsheim, he suffered a severe head injury, a wound that would follow him long after the war ended.
Yet his service did not end with the silencing of guns. Returning home, Lt. Holmes rebuilt his life with the same quiet determination. After graduating from Wayne University, he devoted himself to education, becoming a beloved teacher and later a middle school principal in Dearborn, retiring in 1980.
Where once he led soldiers, he later guided young minds, continuing a lifetime of leadership and service.
Lt. Thomas Holmes stood firm when the world was breaking. He led when hope was thin, endured when retreat was impossible, and lived long enough to see the freedom he helped secure endure.
RIP, Sir!
