Jonathan L. Holman

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose Andres "Andy" Chacon on August 29, 2004:

Jonathan Lane Holman, Jr. Born April 26, 1929 - Died December 15, 2002 Jonathan Lane Holman, Jr. was born in Texas on 26 April 1929 and was appointed to West Point from his Congressional District. His West Point classmates recall: "Being an Army Brat, Lane lived in Hawaii, Kansas, Texas and D. C., before beginning his cadet career. Besides academic abilities he displays an avid flair for art. He consistently misunderstood the complexity of feminine hearts and minds, however. Always willing to join the playful throngs, his obliging ways and earnest will to assist in any manner make him well liked as well as appreciated." During his cadet days Lane went out for Soccer plebe year; was with the Portuguese and Camera Clubs yearling year; with the Model Railroad Club cow year; with the Art Club cow and first class years; on the Policy Committee first class year; and was a Cadet Sergeant his first class year. Upon graduation Lane went in the Artillery and after completing the Basic Artillery Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma reported to the 97th Field Artillery Bat-talion where he served from 1951 to 1952 from where he went to the 780th Field Artillery Battalion, X Corps in Korea from 1952 to 1953 and was decorated with two Air Medals for meritorious achievement beyond that normally expected, while participating in aerial flight. In 1956 Lane earned a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California and on completion was assigned to the Staff & Faculty at the Air Defense Systems, Fort Bliss, Texas where he served until 1959 and was awarded the Commendation Medal for distinguished service. From 960 to 1963 Lane served with the 79th and the 92nd Artillery and then was assigned to the Pershing Project, Missile Command, RSA, from until 1965 and was awarded a second Commendation Medal for distinguished service. In 1966 Lane attended the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and was awarded the Masters of Military Art and Sciences degree as well and on completion received orders to Headquarters, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam where he served until 1967 and was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services. On return to stateside Lane was assigned to the Safeguard Systems Office; served from 1967 to 1969 and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for conspicuously meritorious performance of duty in a non-combat situation. In 1970 Lane attended the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania and on completion was assigned to Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Department of the Army; served until 1971 and was awarded a second Meritorious Service Medal for conspicuously meritorious performance of duty in a non-combat situation. Then from 1971 to 1973 Lane served with the Office Director of Defense Research and Engineering and was awarded a third Meritorious Service Medal for conspicuously meritorious performance of duty in a non-combat situation. Beginning in 1973 until 1975 Lane served as Commanding Officer of the Picatiny Arsenal and was awarded a second Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services. Then from 1975 to 1977 Lane served as Commanding Officer of The Ordnance School, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Lane's last military assignment was to Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics, Army Communications Command where he served from 1977 to 1981 and was awarded a third Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services on his retirement from the United States Army as a Colonel in 1981. Lane and his wife Virginia made their home in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Cullum No 5986 is Lane's father, Class of June 1918. Lane died on December 15, 2002 (I do believe that Lane's sister was an Instructor of the writer at GWU in the early '70s.) jac; 18202, wc 590

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