THE WALL OF FACES

The dry season in Vietnam was the traditional time for the Allies to launch major offensives against the enemy. Between October to May, firm ground and clear skies created ideal condition for the movement of men and materiel, and U.S. and South Vietnamese commanders used this window of opportunity to pursue their tactical goals. In the fall of 1966, General Westmoreland, commander of U.S. forces, ordered large search and destroy operations in the provinces north and west of the capital at Saigon. The 1st Infantry Division, reinforced by the 173rd Airborne Brigade and elements of the 11th Armored Cavalry, were deployed along National Route QL-13, an all-weather, two-lane road in Military Region III that traveled through almost 130 kilometers (78 miles) of farmlands, rubber plantations, and dense forest near the Cambodian border. On November 1, 1966, heavy fighting just north of capital took the lives of eleven 1st Infantry Division infantrymen. Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment was conducting search and destroy operations two kilometers (1.2 miles) northeast of Di An in Bien Hoa Province when they made contact with a large Viet Cong force firing automatic weapons, small arms, and mortars. The lost U.S. personnel included PFC Edward P. Austin, PFC Charles N. Carson Jr., SSG Charles C. Clark (posthumously promoted to Platoon Sergeant), SGT Marion L. Draper, SGT James L. Holcomb, SP4 Timothy Holster, SGT Donald K. Lakey, PFC Michael L. Pugh, SGT Klaus Warrelmann, SP4 Jerry P. Witt, and SP4 Randy B. Wright. Draper, Holcomb, Holster, Pugh, and Witt were posthumously awarded the Bronze Star medal for heroism. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, virtualwall.org, firstdivisionmuseum.com, “Taking the Offensive, October 1966-September 1967” by Glenn F. Williams, and SGT Draper’s Bronze Star citation]

Thank you for your service! I grew up with Tim in Campello Brockton MA. My brother Allan was your best friend.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your high school classmate John Fanning is poignant and reflects his admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

Timothy was the son of Edwin C and Grace Holster.

He was in the Army, light weapons infantry, and began his Vietnam tour on April 13, 1966 attached to the 1st Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, Company C.

Timothy died of multiple fragmentation wounds to the back from hostile ground action.

Bronze Star Medal (Valor) and Purple Heart

There is a playground in Brockton dedicated in Timothy's name.

We graduated from Brockton High together in 1965. While I was attending college in safety, you gave your tomorrows so I could have my today. Thank you, sir.