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词条 Nelson M. Holderman
释义

  1. Biography

  2. Early military career

  3. World War I

  4. Medal of Honor Citation

  5. Silver Star Citation

  6. Military Awards

  7. After World War I

  8. Namesakes

  9. In popular culture

  10. See also

  11. Notes

  12. References

  13. External links

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}{{Infobox military person
| name = Nelson M. Holderman
| image = Nelson M. Holderman - WWI Medal of Honor recipient.jpg
| caption = Medal of Honor recipient
| birthname = Nelson Miles Holderman
| nickname = "Neb"
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1885|11|10}}
| birth_place = Trumbull, Nebraska, United States
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1953|9|03|1885|11|10}}
| death_place = San Bruno, California, United States
| placeofburial = Golden Gate National Cemetery
| placeofburial_label = Place of burial
| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
| branch = {{army|United States}}
| serviceyears = 1916–1923
| rank = Captain and later Colonel
| commands =
| unit = 307th Infantry, 77th Division
| battles =
World War I
  • The Lost Battalion

| awards = Medal of Honor
Silver Star
Purple Heart (3)
| laterwork =
}}Colonel Nelson Miles Holderman (November 10, 1885 – September 3, 1953) was a United States Army officer, most notable for commanding a rifle company of the Lost Battalion during World War I for which he received the Medal of Honor. He was considered by many to be one of the most decorated American soldiers of the war.[1]

Biography

Holderman was born in Trumbull, Nebraska, on 10 November 1885 and named Nelson Miles Holderman after a military officer that his father had served under who had been a hero in the American Civil War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.[1][2] He was the second oldest son in a family which included three older sisters and two brothers. In 1893, his family moved to Tustin, California, where his parents bought {{convert|30|acre|m2}} of land to grow oranges, walnuts and apricots.[1]

Early military career

In 1916, Holderman enlisted as a private in the Santa Ana unit of the California Army National Guard. From June to October of that year, he participated in patrols on the United States–Mexico border during the time of Pancho Villa's raids.[1] Holderman quickly rose through the ranks and by the time of the American entry into World War I, which occurred on April 6, 1917, he was a captain, and a company commander in charge of Company L of his Santa Ana unit.

World War I

Upon arrival on the Western Front the following year his company was assigned as replacements for Company K of the 307th Infantry Regiment, part of the 77th Division of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). Even though Holderman was a replacement officer for Company K, he was very well respected by the soldiers under his command due in part to his previous experience prior to the war.[3] As an officer he was regarded as a "soldier's soldier" who never turned down a patrol and saw his military service as "an adventure".[3][4]

His unit took part in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in late September 1918. On October 3 a major offensive began whose purpose was to break the German line in the Argonne forest. Of all the units who took part in the initial assault, elements of two battalions under the command of Major Charles Whittlesey were able to break through. However, as the only units to have reached their objectives they had gone too far into German territory and were subsequently cut off.[5]

Initial attempts were made to reach Whittlesey and his men but all the units were met with heavy resistance and had to pull back. Only Holderman's Company K, composed of 97 men, had managed to reach Major Whittlesey's units which, incorrectly became known as "The Lost Battalion" even though there were two such units of that size.[5] With not enough men able to close the distance between Whittlesey and the American lines, Holderman and his company subsequently became part of the Lost Battalion. Holderman was tasked to command the right flank. Though severely wounded early on in the five-day siege, Holderman continued to lead his men until finally being relieved. The war came to an end just over a month later, on November 11, 1918 at 11:00am.

Medal of Honor Citation

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, 307th Infantry, 77th Division. Place and date: At Charlevaux, Argonne Forest, France; 2–8 October 1918. Entered service at: Santa Ana, California. Birth: November 10, 1885; Trumbull, Nebraska. General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 11 (March 12, 1921).

Citation:
Captain Holderman commanded a company of a battalion which was cut off and surrounded by the enemy. He was wounded on 4, 5, and 7 October, but throughout the entire period, suffering great pain and subjected to fire of every character, he continued personally to lead and encourage the officers and men under his command with unflinching courage and with distinguished success. On 6 October, in a wounded condition, he rushed through enemy machinegun and shell fire and carried two wounded men to a place of safety.

Silver Star Citation

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, 307th Infantry, 77th Division. General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 28 (1921).

Citation:
By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Captain (Infantry) Nelson Miles Holderman, United States Army, is cited for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Captain Holderman distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 307th Infantry, 77th Division, in action during an attack on the Depot de Machines, Argonne Forest, France, 30 September 1918. His leadership and gallantry were a splendid example to his officers and men.

Military Awards

Holderman's military decorations and awards include:

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Medal of Honor ribbon.svg|width=106}}
number=|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart BAR.svg|width=106}}number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Mexican Border Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Legion Honneur Chevalier ribbon.svg|width=106}}number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=CdG with 2 Bronze Palms.jpg|width=106}}
number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Belgium Order Crown rib.png|width=106}}number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=BEL Order of Leopold II - Knight BAR.png|width=106}}number=0|type=palm|ribbon=Croce di guerra al merito BAR.svg|width=106}}
1st rowMedal of Honor
2nd rowSilver StarPurple Heart w/two bronze oak leaf clustersMexican Border Service Medal
3rd rowWorld War I Victory Medal w/three bronze service stars to denote credit for the Oise-Aisne, Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sector battle clasps.Légion d'honneur in the degree of Chevalier (French Republic)Croix de guerre 1914–1918 w/ two bronze palms (French Republic)
4th rowOrder of the Crown in the degree of Officer (Belgium)Order of Leopold II in the degree of Knight (Belgium)Croce al Merito di Guerra (Italy)

After World War I

{{double image|right|Nelson M. Holderman headstone front.JPG|100|Nelson M. Holderman headstone rear.JPG|100|Holderman's gravestone, front and back, at Golden Gate National Cemetery.}}

After the war, Holderman rejoined the National Guard and continued to serve for many years, eventually retiring with the rank of colonel. He was appointed as the commandant of the Veterans Home of California Yountville in Yountville, California caring for veterans.[1] He served from 1923 until his retirement in 1953 during which time he greatly expanded the home. After his death, the Veterans Home was renamed to the Nelson M. Holderman in his honor. Though he was regarded as a national hero, he never used his status for personal gain.[6]

Namesakes

The Captain Nelson M. Holderman U.S. Army Reserve Center in West Los Angeles, California is named in his honor, as is the main building on the grounds, Holderman Hall.

In popular culture

In the 2001 made-for-TV movie The Lost Battalion, Holderman was played by Adam James.

At the conclusion of the 1962 film The Manchurian Candidate, Frank Sinatra's character reads Holderman's and Daniel R. Edwards' Medal of Honor citations.

See also

{{Portal|Biography|United States Army|World War I}}
  • Charles White Whittlesey – Medal of Honor recipient. Commander of the Lost Battalion
  • George G. McMurtry – Medal of Honor recipient. Officer in the Lost Battalion
  • List of Medal of Honor recipients
  • List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I

Notes

1. ^The Tustin Area Historical Society, Lovret, Juanita. Remembering Capt. Nelson Holderman of the Lost Battalion. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
2. ^OCCGS Civil War Veterans Project Upton C. Holderman, Jr. Veteran Information. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
3. ^Laplander, op. cit. p 210
4. ^Johnson, op. cit. p 50
5. ^{{cite web| url = http://www.homeofheroes.com/wings/part1/3_lostbattalion.html| title = Wings of Valor: The Lost Battalion in the Argonne Forest| publisher = C. Douglass Turner| accessdate = 2008-02-20}}
6. ^{{cite web| url = http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/vets.html| title = Veterans' Home of California, Yountville, California| publisher = California Department of Veterans Affairs, Sacramento| accessdate = 2008-02-20}}

References

  • {{cite book | last=Laplander |first=Robert | title=Finding the Lost Battalion: Beyond the Rumors, Myths And Legends of America | year=2006 |publisher= |location=New York}} {{ISBN|1-4116-7656-4}}
  • {{cite book | last=Johnson |first=Thomas | title=The Lost Battalion | year=2000 |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |location=Nebraska}} {{ISBN|0-8032-7613-3}}

External links

  • Medal of Honor Recipients on Film
{{authority control}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Holderman, Nelson M.}}

15 : American military personnel of World War I|United States Army Medal of Honor recipients|United States Army officers|People from Trumbull, Nebraska|Recipients of the Silver Star|Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur|Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Officers of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)|Knights of the Order of Leopold II|Recipients of the War Cross for Military Valor|1885 births|1953 deaths|World War I recipients of the Medal of Honor|Burials at Golden Gate National Cemetery|People from Yountville, California

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